What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

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

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	Westfield	North Andover
People
Population	40,378Highest	31,490Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average	39.6±2Lowest 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	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±2.1Highest 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+	18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17%±1.9Lowest 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+	33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	61.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	11%±2.4Highest 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	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA	$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA	$732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA	$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA	$7,767Highest 30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9Highest 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	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#197 of 282 in MA	#98 of 282 in MA
School district	Westfield	North Andover
High school in town	Westfield High	North Andover High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.3Highest
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.