Andover, lying 23 miles northwest of Boston, is highly convenient to commuters because of its direct rail service and the numerous state and interstate highways running through it. In addition to this accessibility, Andover's appeal is found in its small New England town character. First settled in 1636 and called Cochichawicke, the Native American name for a local waterway, Andover was incorporated as a town in 1646. Since then, the town has grown to over 31,000 residents.
Most notable in Andover is the prestigious and exclusive prep school, Phillips Andover Academy. Founded in 1770 by Samuel Phillips, the school today has an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students. Phillips Academy alumni include former President George Bush, pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, former Yale President and baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, and former Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr. Andover also boasts a high quality public school district served by five elementary schools, three middle schools and a high school.
Additionally there are full-time police and fire departments, solid waste disposal, street maintenance and snow removal services. The town is governed by a five member elected board of selectmen led by a town manager. Covering 32 square miles, Andover is adjacent to the cities of Lawrence and Methuen to the north, North Andover to the east, Dracut and Tewksbury to the west and North Reading and Wilmington to the south.
Within Andover, one finds a large number of upscale homes, but also modest, single family homes and condominiums. Some two-family homes and a wide variety of large, upscale homes are available as well. Removed from the highways, the tree-lined residential streets of Andover offer a variety of typical New England architectual styles such as expanded cape, colonial, Victorian and federal styles.
The charming and commercially thriving downtown area features high end shops and small restaurants. Additionally there are large supermarkets, family restaurants and retailers along route 114 which crosses the Merrimack College campus in Andover. The town has proved to be a desireable location for large companies representing major industries, including those involved in defense contracting, computer technology, biotech, financial services and medical products. Still, there are 259 acres of developable land for commercial and industrial purposes in Andover.
Andover offers an array of activities for outdoor and cultural recreation. Merrimack College and Phillips Andover Academy provide frequent art exhibits and music concerts. Harold Parker State Forest, with its 3000 acres, offers hiking, bicycling, camping, fishing and horseback riding. In the summer, the town operates Pomp's Pond, with youth orientated activities like instructional and recreational swimming, boat rental and volley ball. This friendly and family-oriented town is also in close proximity to destinations in New Hampshire which lies just across the Merrimack River.
In August 2008, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Andover, MA was $572,060. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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