What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shrewsbury has the most people working from home (26.3%).

North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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	Shrewsbury	North Andover
People
Population	38,876Highest	31,490Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±1.5Highest about the MA average	39.6±2Lowest about the MA average
	Shrewsbury and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Shrewsbury and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	17%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Andover and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	61.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$139,302±$11kLowest 34% above MA	$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA
	North Andover and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA	$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$98Lowest 20% above MA	$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA
	North Andover and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,923Lowest 16% above MA	$7,767Highest 30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Andover and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979 15 yrs newer than MA	1979 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 282 in MA	#98 of 282 in MA
School district	Shrewsbury	North Andover
High school in town	Shrewsbury High School	North Andover High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	13.3Lowest
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.