What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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	Westford	Andover
People
Population	24,690Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±1.2Lowest 7% above MA	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Andover and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Andover and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	73.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$187,198±$10kHighest 80% above MA	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA
	Westford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$748,500±$32kLowest 33% above MA	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
	Westford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,695Lowest 62% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±8Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Andover and Westford 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	#20 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Westford Academy	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.