Andover vs North Andover vs Tewksbury vs Boxford: Where to Buy

Shopping the Merrimack Valley? These four neighboring towns — Andover, North Andover, Tewksbury, and Boxford — sit within minutes of each other but offer very different combinations of price, schools, commute, and lifestyle. If you're weighing Andover vs North Andover vs Tewksbury vs Boxford, here's the honest breakdown.

Home Prices: What Your Money Buys

Price is where these towns diverge most sharply:

• Andover — single-family median near $1.3 million; overall median around $969K. The premium town of the group, with the deepest luxury tier.
• North Andover — single-family median around $987,500 (July 2026), roughly $1.01M year-to-date. About 25% less than Andover for a comparable home — the classic "Andover-adjacent value" play.
• Tewksbury — median around $676,500. Solid suburban single-families at roughly half of Andover's median. The affordability pick.
• Boxford — median around $1.1 million over the last 12 months. Closer to Andover's territory, but you're buying land and privacy rather than town amenities.

The practical takeaway: a budget that buys a starter colonial in Tewksbury buys a condo in Andover. A budget that buys comfortably in North Andover buys at the entry level in Andover. And Boxford competes with Andover on price while offering a fundamentally different lifestyle — rural and spread out versus Andover's town-center energy.

Schools: The Deciding Factor for Many

For school-driven buyers, the ranking is clear:

• Andover leads the group — Andover High School earns an A rating with a GreatSchools 10 and average SAT scores around 1320, plus the cultural halo of Phillips Academy on Main Street. This is the primary reason Andover commands its premium.
• North Andover is strong — well-regarded schools that satisfy most families, and a big reason the town draws buyers priced out of Andover.
• Boxford shares a regional school district (Masconomet) known for solid performance, in a small-town setting.
• Tewksbury offers good, improving schools at a much lower price point — the value equation for families who prioritize budget.

If schools are your top criterion and budget allows, Andover wins. If schools matter but budget matters more, North Andover and Tewksbury both deliver respectable systems for significantly less money.

Commuting: Boston Access Compared

• Andover — the clear winner. Its own commuter rail station (plus Ballardvale) on the Haverhill line runs direct to North Station in about an hour; I-93 and I-495 access is excellent.
• North Andover — no commuter rail station of its own; most commuters drive to Andover's or Lawrence's station, or drive. Good highway access via I-495 and Route 114.
• Tewksbury — no train station; commuters typically drive to Lowell or Wilmington stations or drive the whole way. I-93 and I-495 access is good, but Boston commutes are car-dependent.
• Boxford — the most car-dependent of the four. No train, limited highway access; commuters drive to Andover, North Andover, or Rowley-area stations, or drive to Boston.

If a Boston commute is part of your life, Andover's two rail stations are a genuine, daily advantage that's hard to overstate — it's the single biggest lifestyle differentiator among these towns.

Lifestyle and Town Character

• Andover — a real downtown with restaurants, shops, and events; Phillips Academy's museums and concerts; Pomp's Pond, Harold Parker State Forest, and the Shawsheen River for recreation. The most "complete" town of the four.
• North Andover — charming in its own right, with a smaller town center, the Stevens Estate, and a strong community feel. Quieter than Andover, more town than suburb in its core.
• Tewksbury — classic suburbia: subdivisions, shopping plazas, youth sports, and excellent highway access. Less historic character, more practical convenience.
• Boxford — rural New England: large lots, farms, conservation land, and quiet roads. The choice for buyers who want space and privacy above all else.

Taxes and Cost of Ownership

All four towns carry Massachusetts property taxes, but the bills differ with home values. Andover's average tax bill runs around $8,700 per year on higher assessments; Tewksbury's lower home values mean lower absolute bills. Boxford's large lots can mean higher assessments even at similar price points. Massachusetts' 5% state income tax applies equally across all four towns, so it won't tip the decision — focus instead on the property tax bills tied to each town's assessments and rates. Factor insurance, too — roughly $1,600 per year on a median Andover-area home.

Andover vs North Andover vs Tewksbury vs Boxford: Where Should You Buy?

• Choose Andover if schools are the top priority, you want commuter rail access, you value a real downtown, and your budget reaches $1M+.
• Choose North Andover if you want strong schools and community at roughly 75% of Andover's cost — the sweet spot for many families.
• Choose Tewksbury if affordability leads, you want a solid suburban single-family under $750K, and you're comfortable driving to the train or Boston.
• Choose Boxford if land, privacy, and a rural setting matter most, and you don't need walkability or rail access.

Many buyers tour all four and let the right house decide. That's a fine strategy — but go in knowing the trade-offs, so you're comparing deliberately rather than falling for the first pretty kitchen.

The Andover vs North Andover vs Tewksbury vs Boxford decision ultimately comes down to how you rank schools, commute, space, and budget. If you'd like to walk these towns with someone who knows each one's streets, schools, and market dynamics, reach out to Doherty Properties — and work with Chris Doherty, one of Greater Lowell's top agents, to find the town (and the home) that fits.