Living in Andover, Massachusetts

Andover is a town in Essex County in the Merrimack Valley, about 20 miles north of Boston and 4 miles south of Lawrence. Settled in 1642 and incorporated in 1646, it reached its current boundaries in 1855 when the northern half separated to form North Andover, and it is home to Phillips Academy, founded in 1778.

Andover Center Ballardvale Shawsheen Village

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Andover at a glance

$12.31Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$13,176Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
EssexCounty
1646Year incorporated

Andover's villages and zip codes

Andover uses ZIP code 01810.

Andover villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Andover Center	01810	The town's downtown and civic center, with Town Offices and the Andover commuter rail station.
Ballardvale	01810	A historic mill village in the southern part of town along the Shawsheen River, with its own commuter rail station.
Shawsheen Village	01810	A planned early-20th-century residential and commercial village built for American Woolen Company employees.

Things to do in Andover, MA

Start with Phillips Academy campus and Addison Gallery of American Art and Harold Parker State Forest, then 1 more below.

Phillips Academy campus and Addison Gallery of American Art
A historic prep school campus with a free-admission art museum open to the public.
Free
Andover, MA
Harold Parker State Forest
A state forest with ponds, trails, and camping shared with North Andover and North Reading.
FreeYear-round
Andover, MA
Ballardvale village
A historic mill village with 19th-century industrial buildings along the Shawsheen River.
FreeYear-round
Ballardvale, Andover, MA

A little history

Andover was the scene of Salem witch trials accusations in 1692, with three residents executed.

On January 4, 1853, Benjamin Pierce, the 11-year-old son of president-elect Franklin Pierce, was killed in a train accident in town.

Shawsheen Village was built in the early 20th century by the American Woolen Company as a planned community for its workers.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Andover

Andover has state forest land, several ponds, and the Shawsheen River running through it.

Harold Parker State ForestState forest with hiking trails and ponds.
Haggetts PondThe town's water supply reservoir.
Fosters PondA pond in Andover with conservation land around it.

Walkability and getting around Andover

Andover Center, around Main and Bartlet streets, is a walkable downtown with shops and restaurants; Ballardvale and Shawsheen Village have smaller walkable centers, while much of the rest of town is car-oriented.

Drive times

Boston, about 20 miles

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

MBTA Commuter Rail's Haverhill Line serves two stations in Andover: Andover and Ballardvale, both with service to Boston's North Station.

Andover property taxes

Andover's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.31 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $24.18. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,231 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $13,176, on an average assessed value of $1,070,385.

Andover's FY2026 tax rates

$12.31per $1,000, residential

Residential$12.31 per $1,000
Commercial, industrial, personal property$24.18 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$1,070,385
Average single-family tax bill$13,176
Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal year	Residential rate
FY2022	$14.60
FY2023	$13.66
FY2024	$12.88
FY2025	$12.49
FY2026	$12.31

Look up a Andover property

FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Town ClerkVital records and town records
Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 978-623-8930
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Andover

What we check on a Andover purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, utility.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Essex County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Andover

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Andover Fire Rescue before the sale closes. Call 978-623-3700 to schedule.

Andover Fire Rescue page

Utility

National Grid with a town power program

National Grid delivers electricity in Andover, while the town runs Andover Community Power, a municipal aggregation program that sets the default electricity supplier for residents.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

Thinking about buying in Andover?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Andover address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Andover: utilities, trash and town offices

Who to call in Andover: National Grid for power.

ElectricNational Grid
Trash and recyclingThe town runs curbside trash, recycling, and yard-waste collection through a contracted hauler, supplying residents with a town-issued trash container; it is not a pay-as-you-throw system.
Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV

Town Offices offices and contacts

Andover Town Offices is at 36 Bartlet St, Andover, MA 01810. Main line: 978-623-8230.

Andover, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Andover, MA?

Andover's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.31 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $24.18. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Andover?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,924 a year at $12.31 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Andover have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $12.31 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $24.18.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Andover?

The average single-family tax bill in Andover was $13,176 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,070,385.

What county is Andover in?

Andover is in Essex County, Massachusetts.

What ZIP code does Andover use?

Andover uses ZIP code 01810.

Is Andover on the MBTA Commuter Rail?

Yes. The Haverhill Line serves the Andover and Ballardvale stations, both with service to Boston's North Station.

Who supplies electricity in Andover?

National Grid delivers electricity; the town also runs Andover Community Power, a municipal aggregation program.

How far is Andover from Boston?

Andover is about 20 miles north of Boston.

Is trash pickup curbside in Andover?

Yes. The town provides curbside trash, recycling, and yard-waste collection through a contracted hauler.

Towns near Andover

Neighbors of Andover, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources

Wikipedia: Andover, Massachusetts: en.wikipedia.org
Town of Andover official website: andoverma.gov
Town of Andover: Trash Collection: andoverma.gov
Town of Andover: Andover Community Power: andoverma.gov
Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
Checked September 25, 2026.