Compare towns
Milton vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Lowest |
154,749Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
| Andover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%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 |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Springfield | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Milton High | Springfield Central High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.2Lowest |
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.