Compare towns
Milton vs Fairhaven vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k 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.
| Measure | Milton | Fairhaven | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587 |
15,903Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Fairhaven | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Milton High | Fairhaven High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.