Live, work and play in Andover. Brimming with rich history and classic small town charm, Andover is the quintessential New England town. With a bustling downtown filled with delicious restaurants and an array of shops as well as the safe neighborhoods and an excellent school system, Andover, Massachusetts is a great place to be.
Reasons to Consider Moving to Andover
Reason #1: Quality Schools
When it comes to Andover’s academic prowess, their reputation precedes them. Andover, Massachusetts is home to one of the oldest and most prestigious independent prep schools in the country, Phillips Academy, dating back to 1770. The school has been deemed by Business Insider as “America’s best high school.” See the video clip below.
The long list of notable Phillips Academy alumni include former President George Bush as well as former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr. In addition to Phillips Academy, Andover is a short drive away from Merrimack College located in North Andover.
Outside of the private sphere, Andover’s public schools are highly regarded for their community aspect and, of course, academic success. Andover schools at the elementary, middle and public high school level all rank some of the highest in the state.
Reason #2: Restaurants
Andover is home to many great restaurants with many options for all times of the day and at all different price points. For breakfast and lunch, a local favorite cafe, Crack’d, is a great choice for classic go-to breakfast sandwiches among a large menu with plenty of variety and healthy options. For a nice sit down dinner, a popular spot is Grassfield Food and Spirits. This restaurant has a wide menu with accommodations for a wide range of dietary restrictions. These two restaurants are only two of many appetizing restaurants to explore in Andover.
Reason #3: Tech Jobs
For a small town of 35,000 people, Andover attracts a number of tech start ups and popular corporate names, including Raytheon, Phillips and Pfizer. A shipping center for Amazon is coming to the nearby town of North Andover.
Reason #4: Beautiful Homes
While there are a handful of modern homes in Andover, there are also many historical homes that the city council works to maintain. Take a drive through Central Street to view a variety of home architecture from historical colonials, Tudor revivals, Gothic revivals, contemporary homes and more.
Reason #5: Outdoor Spaces
Even though its location could not be better for day trips to the beach or city for example, there is so much to do and see within city limits. If you’re looking to get active or just to get outside, there are a myriad of trails to choose from varying in landscape and difficulty. Holt Hill has the highest elevation at 420 feet and rewards walkers and hikers with a beautiful view at the top with the city of Boston in the distance. For walking and running trails with water views some great options are the Harold Parker Loop Trail or the Goldsmith Reservation.
Reason #6: Location
Nested on the banks of the Merrimack River in Essex county, Andover really has a prime location mapping 23 miles from Boston and has easy access to 2 major highways- 495 and 93. While this distance is ideal to drive into Boston on day trips, Andover is also a stop on an MBTA line that heads into Boston’s North Station. North Station is also known as the TD Garden, a sports arena home to the Boston Bruins and Celtics. This easy one stop access makes the trip ideal for fans to support their favorite teams as well as offers easy connection to Boston’s subway network, called the “T” by locals. Ideal for a summer day or for a change of scenery, Salisbury Beach is only a half hour easy drive away.
Andover Stats
Population: 36,500 (2018)
Median Home Prices (single family home): $784,124
Closest Major Airport: There are 2 close major airports nearby. Andover is a 28-minute drive to Boston Logan International Airport, and a 37-minute drive from the Manchester Regional airport in New Hampshire.
Commute to Boston: 30 minutes driving by car or 48 minutes by train via the Haverhill line. Andover has easy access to major highways (I-93 and I-495).
How Far Is The Beach? Salisbury Beach is only a half hour easy drive away.
Town Website: https://andoverma.gov/
