What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	North Andover	Amherst
People
Population	31,490Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kLowest 74% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
	Amherst and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Lowest 149% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	North Andover	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	North Andover High	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.