Andover, MA vs Wakefield, MA

Andover is moderately more affordable than Wakefield, with a 6.4% lower cost of living index. Andover scores 141 compared to 150 for Wakefield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wakefield can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Andover is $1,422/month compared to $1,872/month in Wakefield — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Andover has cheaper rent, Wakefield actually has lower median home values ($670,100 vs $719,900).

Median household income in Andover is $127,054 compared to $130,320 in Wakefield (-2.5%). Wakefield does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Andover spend roughly 13.4% of their income on rent, less than the 17.2% in Wakefield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.1°F vs 49.9°F). Wakefield receives more rainfall at 44.9" per year compared to 40.9" in Andover.