Haverhill MA vs Andover MA: Which Town Is Right for Your Family?
The quick answer: Haverhill MA has the lower tax rate, a riverfront downtown that's changing fast and more room in most budgets. Andover MA has top school results and a quieter, polished feel. The FY2026 rates are $10.61 per $1,000 in Haverhill MA and $12.31 in Andover MA. Both have commuter rail into Boston.
You can renovate a kitchen. You can't renovate the street.
That's why this choice feels so heavy. The house you can change. The town around it, you live with.
You might be looking at a roomy house in Haverhill MA and a smaller one in Andover MA for a similar budget. You feel pulled both ways. Is Andover MA worth the stretch? Is Haverhill MA the smart move, or are you settling?
If you feel torn, you aren't alone. Families from out of state ask me this all the time. Here's the honest side by side.
A lower price isn't settling when the life around it fits you.
In this guide
What's the real difference between Haverhill MA and Andover MA?
Haverhill MA is a real city on the river. Andover MA is a polished suburb.
Haverhill MA has energy, old mill buildings and a downtown that's changing every year. Andover MA has a classic town center, Phillips Academy and a settled, steady feel.
Both can be a great fit for you. It depends on what you want your week to look like.
How do taxes compare in Haverhill MA and Andover MA?
Haverhill MA has the lower rate. Andover MA homes are usually assessed higher too, so bills there often run bigger.
| FY2026 and latest data | Haverhill MA | Andover MA |
|---|---|---|
| Home tax rate per $1,000 | $10.61 | $12.31 |
| Tax on each $100,000 of assessed value | About $1,061 a year | About $1,231 a year |
| Average single family tax bill | See the state's list | $13,176 |
| Commuter rail into North Station | Yes | Yes |
| Big school project | New Consentino Middle School, set to finish in 2026 | High school building plan still open |
To estimate a bill, divide the assessed value by 1,000. Then multiply by the rate. Assessed value is the value the city or town puts on a home for taxes. It isn't the price you pay. The state keeps every town's FY2026 numbers in one place.
Do both Haverhill MA and Andover MA have a train to Boston?
Yes. Both are on the same commuter rail line into North Station in Boston.
Andover MA is closer to Boston, so your ride is shorter. Haverhill MA is near the end of the line. Check the current schedule from the stop closest to the house you like.
That shared train is a big reason buyers compare these two in the first place.
How do the schools compare?
Andover MA graduated 98.1 percent of its class of 2025, per the state's report. Look up Haverhill MA on the same state profiles site.
Haverhill MA is finishing a brand new Consentino Middle School for grades 5 to 8, set to finish in 2026. Andover MA is still weighing what to do with its high school building.
Scores tell you part of the story. Visit the schools. Talk to parents on the street you like. Then decide what fits your kids.
Want a second opinion on the schools? Look at the ranking sites parents use most: Boston magazine's 2025 high school rankings, GreatSchools, Niche and U.S. News. Look up Haverhill MA and Andover MA on each one. They each weigh things a little differently, so read two or three.
Curious about safety? Check the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which shows crime reported by each town's police department. You can also check the Haverhill MA and Andover MA police department websites for recent reports.
What's happening in downtown Haverhill MA?
A lot. The biggest piece is District Square, in the middle of the historic downtown.
The city's project sheet lists 395 new apartments, about 24,000 square feet of shops including a food hall, and about 1.3 acres of public green space. Phase one started in 2024 with a new parking garage.
Add the riverwalk along the Merrimack River, and you can see why people are excited about Haverhill MA right now.
What does a Saturday feel like in Haverhill MA?
Coffee by the river while the city wakes up. A walk on the riverwalk past the old mill buildings.
Then a trip up to Winnekenni Castle for the view. An easy afternoon at a brewery downtown, where you can sit as long as you like. Dinner out, and a slow stroll back along the water.
It's a day that doesn't cost you much and gives you a lot.
What does a Saturday feel like in Andover MA?
Coffee near the town common. A stroll past the Phillips Academy campus, one of the prettiest in New England.
You grab lunch downtown. Then you hike at Harold Parker State Forest, with quiet trails and real New England woods.
Andover MA weekends feel settled. Everything works. For the right family, that's worth paying for.
How do you choose between Haverhill MA and Andover MA?
Start with what your life needs most.
- If school results and a quiet suburb come first, look hard at Andover MA.
- If you want more house for your payment and a city with momentum, look hard at Haverhill MA.
- Either way, run the real tax bill on the houses you like.
- Ride the train from each town once before you decide.
Don't think of Haverhill MA as settling. Don't think of Andover MA as overpriced. Each one gives you something real.
For families weighing a city and a suburb
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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 Haverhill MA or Andover MA better to live in?
Neither is better. Haverhill MA is a riverfront city with a lower tax rate. Andover MA is a polished suburb with top school results. Pick the one that fits your week.
What's the property tax rate in Haverhill MA?
The FY2026 home tax rate in Haverhill MA is $10.61 per $1,000 of assessed value. That's about $1,061 a year for each $100,000.
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.
Are taxes lower in Haverhill MA than Andover MA?
The rate is lower in Haverhill MA. Homes in Andover MA are usually assessed higher too, so bills there often run bigger. Compare real houses to be sure.
Do Haverhill MA and Andover MA both have commuter rail?
Yes. Both are on the same commuter rail line into North Station in Boston. The ride from Andover MA is shorter.
What's the graduation rate in Andover MA?
The Andover MA class of 2025 graduated at 98.1 percent, per the state's report.
Is Haverhill MA building a new school?
Yes. The new Consentino Middle School in Haverhill MA serves grades 5 to 8 and is set to finish in 2026.
What's District Square in Haverhill MA?
It's a downtown project in Haverhill MA. The city lists 395 apartments, about 24,000 square feet of shops with a food hall, and about 1.3 acres of public green space.
What can you do on a weekend in Haverhill MA?
Walk the riverwalk, visit Winnekenni Castle for the view and spend an afternoon at a brewery downtown.
What can you do on a weekend in Andover MA?
Get coffee near the town common, stroll the Phillips Academy campus and hike Harold Parker State Forest.
Is Haverhill MA a good place for first-time buyers?
Often, yes. Many buyers find more house for the same payment in Haverhill MA, plus a train to Boston. Run the numbers on real homes first.
Where can I check crime and safety in Haverhill MA and Andover MA?
Start with the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which shows crime reported by each police department, including Haverhill MA and Andover MA. Then check each town's police department website for recent reports.
Sources
- City of Haverhill MA, Treasurer and Tax Collector: FY2026 tax rate
- 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
- Massachusetts Division of Local Services: FY2026 tax levies, assessed values and tax rates
- Massachusetts DESE: Andover MA graduation rate, class of 2025
- Massachusetts DESE: School and district profiles
- Haverhill MA Public Schools: new Consentino Middle School
- City of Haverhill MA: District Square project sheet, September 2025 (checked October 14, 2026)
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