What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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	Westfield
People
Population	31,490Lowest	40,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2Lowest about the MA average	39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average
	Westfield and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Andover and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Westfield 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 MA: 47.3%	33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	10%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Andover and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Highest 30% above MA	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Highest MA: 51.8%	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Andover and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 282 in MA	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	North Andover	Westfield
High school in town	North Andover High	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	11.9Lowest
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.