What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k median).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Andover	Plainville
People
Population	31,490Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Highest 149% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Andover and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	North Andover	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	North Andover High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.