What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lexington has the most expensive homes ($1203k median).

Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).

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	Lexington	Andover
People
Population	34,295Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA
Kids under 18	25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lexington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA	$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lexington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Lexington	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Lexington High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.