Andover MA vs North Andover MA: Which Town Fits Your Life Better?
The quick answer: Andover MA has the commuter rail and higher school spending. North Andover MA has a lower tax rate and a smaller average tax bill. The FY2026 rates are $12.31 per $1,000 in Andover MA and $11.24 in North Andover MA. Both graduate over 96 percent. Pick the town whose normal week fits yours.
Everyone talks about the price of living in Andover MA. Nobody talks about this tradeoff.
The tradeoff is your week. Not the house. The week.
You found a great house in Andover MA, and another one in North Andover MA. Now you feel stuck. They look so alike on paper. Which one will your family love in five years?
If you're torn, you aren't alone. Buyers ask me this every week. When it came time to pick where to raise my own kids, I was torn between these same two towns. It felt bigger than real estate. It felt like picking our future.
The real question isn't which town is better. It's which life feels like yours.
In this guide
What's the real difference between Andover MA and North Andover MA?
The short answer is rhythm. You feel it the first hour you spend in each town.
Andover MA often feels polished, busy and focused on school. North Andover MA often feels softer and easier to breathe in.
Here's how I say it. In Andover MA, people are building an amazing life. In North Andover MA, people are trying to enjoy one. Neither is better. They're two kinds of beautiful.
How do the taxes, schools and train compare?
Andover MA spends more per student and has the train. North Andover MA has the lower tax bill.
| FY2026 and latest state data | Andover MA | North Andover MA |
|---|---|---|
| Home tax rate per $1,000 | $12.31 | $11.24 |
| Average single family tax bill | $13,176 | $9,531 |
| Class of 2025 graduation rate | 98.1% | 96.5% |
| Spending per student, FY2024 | $24,441 | $19,313 |
| Commuter rail stop in town | Yes | No |
Every number above comes from the state. You can tap any one to check its source yourself.
Are property taxes lower in North Andover MA or Andover MA?
North Andover MA. Its FY2026 home rate is $11.24 per $1,000, and Andover MA's is $12.31.
The average single family tax bill shows the gap best. It's $13,176 in Andover MA and $9,531 in North Andover MA, per the state's FY2026 data. That's over $3,600 a year.
To check a real house, divide its assessed value by 1,000. Then multiply by the town's rate. Assessed value is the value the town puts on a home for taxes. It isn't the price you pay.
Which town has better schools, Andover MA or North Andover MA?
Both are strong. Andover MA graduated 98.1 percent of its class of 2025. North Andover MA graduated 96.5 percent.
Andover MA spent about $24,441 per student in FY2024. North Andover MA spent about $19,313. More money doesn't mean a better fit for every child, though. Some kids thrive in a high pressure place. Others do best where they can breathe.
North Andover MA is also building a new Kittredge School. Town meeting approved it in May 2026, and the town says it's paid for without a tax override vote. In Andover MA, the high school building plan is still open. Our Andover MA schools and taxes guide walks you through it.
Does North Andover MA have a train to Boston?
No. Andover MA does, and that matters if you commute.
Andover MA has commuter rail stops, so you can ride straight into North Station in Boston. North Andover MA doesn't have its own stop, so most riders drive to a nearby station.
If you'll ride the train most days, that can decide it for you. If you work from home or drive, North Andover MA gives you more room in your budget.
What does a normal Saturday feel like in each town?
My Andover MA Saturday starts slow. Coffee at Ultimate Perk out in the sun. Maybe brunch at LaRosa's. Then the farmers market for flowers and bread. Then the pups and I head to Harold Parker State Forest for a long walk.
My North Andover MA Saturday starts earlier. A walk at Weir Hill with the pups before the trails fill up. Kayaking on a warm day. Then coffee at Good Day Cafe, where I also love to meet clients. It's quiet, and you can park.
In the fall, North Andover MA families head to Smolak Farms for apples and cider donuts. Those little routines become your life. You'll feel it within a month.
Where do people eat out in Andover MA and North Andover MA?
Andover MA dining feels more downtown. North Andover MA dining feels more like the neighborhood.
In Andover MA, LaRosa's and the Autograph American Tavern feel like going into town. In North Andover MA, Orzo Trattoria and Tavern on High feel like your regular spot. Both work for date night, girls night out or guys night out. You'll know fast which one feels like you.
What does a drive through both towns look like?
Watch this two minute tour. It's the next best thing to riding along with me.
How do you decide between Andover MA and North Andover MA?
Ask yourself five questions.
- Which life feels like yours: busy downtown, or quiet and close to the woods?
- Will you ride the train most weeks?
- How much monthly payment can you carry and still sleep well?
- Where will your kids breathe best?
- What does your perfect weekend look like?
Your answers usually point you to one town. If they don't, you can spend a Saturday in each. You'll know by Sunday.
For families torn between the Andovers
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About Lisa Sevajian
Lisa Sevajian is a Realtor with the Lisa Sevajian Group at eXp Realty, licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She has guided almost 2,000 families through buying and selling and has ranked in the top 1.5% of over 1.4 million Realtors nationwide, verified by RealTrends. She serves the Andovers, the Merrimack Valley, Seacoast MA and NH, Southern NH and the North Shore. Buying, she makes sure you don't overpay. Selling, she makes sure you don't say yes to too little. Call Lisa Sevajian at 978-457-3406.
Home, for me, is here
This is home for me. I grew up north of Boston. I raised my two daughters here as a single mom while I built my business. When they were little, they hosted open houses with me.
We lived at Mill Pond in North Andover MA. I hiked Weir Hill with my dogs. I launched my kayak on the pond. A lot of my mornings started at Good Day Cafe.
So when you ask me about a town, you get more than numbers. Ask me about a school, a street or your commute, and you get someone who has lived it. If you're making a move here, you won't make it alone.
Lisa is an expert negotiator and we were able to get everything that we wanted for our offer.
Kevin Liu, bought a home in Georgetown MA, verified Zillow review
She listened to me and understood what I needed in this home sale.
Elizabeth Reifsnyder, sold a home in Andover MA, verified Zillow review
Read real client storiesSee all reviewsMore about Lisa Sevajian
Featured by HGTV, Forbes, HousingWire, Boston magazine, RealTrends Verified and Boston Agent Magazine, syndicated by The Globe and Mail and Yahoo Finance, among many others.
Questions people ask
Is Andover MA or North Andover MA better to live in?
Neither is better. Andover MA feels busier and has the train. North Andover MA feels quieter and has lower taxes. Pick the one whose normal week fits yours.
What's the property tax rate in Andover MA?
The FY2026 home tax rate in Andover MA is $12.31 per $1,000 of assessed value. The average single family bill is $13,176.
What's the property tax rate in North Andover MA?
The FY2026 home tax rate in North Andover MA is $11.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. The average single family bill is $9,531.
Are taxes lower in North Andover MA than Andover MA?
Yes. The FY2026 rate is lower, and the average single family bill is over $3,600 less in North Andover MA.
Are Andover MA schools better than North Andover MA schools?
Both are strong. Andover MA graduated 98.1 percent of the class of 2025 and North Andover MA graduated 96.5 percent. Andover MA spends more per student.
How much does Andover MA spend per student?
The state reports about $24,441 per student in Andover MA for FY2024, the newest year posted. North Andover MA spent about $19,313.
Does North Andover MA have a commuter rail station?
No. Riders from North Andover MA usually drive to a nearby station. Andover MA has commuter rail stops with trains into North Station in Boston.
Is North Andover MA building a new school?
Yes. Town meeting approved a new Kittredge School in May 2026. The town says it's paid for without a tax override vote.
What are the best outdoor spots in North Andover MA?
Weir Hill and Lake Cochichewick are local favorites. In the fall, families head to Smolak Farms for apples and cider donuts.
What are the best outdoor spots in Andover MA?
Harold Parker State Forest is a favorite for long walks with dogs. The farmers market downtown is a Saturday staple.
How do I estimate property taxes on a house in Andover MA?
Divide the assessed value by 1,000, then multiply by 12.31. In North Andover MA, multiply by 11.24 instead.
Sources
- Massachusetts Division of Local Services: FY2026 tax rates by class (checked October 14, 2026)
- Massachusetts Division of Local Services: FY2026 average single family tax bill (checked October 14, 2026)
- Massachusetts Division of Local Services: FY2026 tax levies, assessed values and tax rates
- Massachusetts DESE: Andover MA graduation rate, class of 2025
- Massachusetts DESE: North Andover MA graduation rate, class of 2025
- Massachusetts DESE: Per pupil spending by district, FY2024
- Town of North Andover MA: Kittredge School project FAQ
This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your attorney, lender and CPA before you decide.
I'll guide you home.
Lisa Sevajian