Compare towns
Newton vs Dover vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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.
| Measure | Newton | Dover | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
2,308Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Dover and Andover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Newton 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Newton 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 | #1 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 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.