Compare towns
North Andover vs Andover vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | North Andover | Andover | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,490Lowest |
36,652 |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2 about the MA average |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| North Andover and 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| North Andover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
| North Andover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,767 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #98 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence |
| High school in town | North Andover High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
12.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.