What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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	Newton	Andover
People
Population	89,044Highest	36,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Andover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA
	Newton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA	$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
	Newton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Newton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Newton and Andover 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	#25 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Newton	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Newton North High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.8Highest
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.