What stands out worked out from the figures below

Billerica has the most affordable homes ($612k median).

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Billerica	Andover
People
Population	42,003Highest	36,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.6Highest 8% above MA	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA
	Billerica and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Billerica and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,200±$8kLowest 43% above MA	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,000±$13kLowest 9% above MA	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,282±$173Highest 30% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
	Billerica and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,358Lowest 6% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.3%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Billerica and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973 9 yrs newer than MA	1973 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	19.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#146 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Billerica Memorial High School	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.