Compare towns
Sutton vs Andover vs Waterville vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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.
| Measure | Sutton | Andover | Waterville | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
36,652Highest |
680Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #68 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.