What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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	Mansfield	Andover
People
Population	23,931Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Andover and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Andover and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Lowest 21% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Andover and Mansfield 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	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Mansfield High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	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.