Compare towns
Andover vs Lancaster vs Barkhamsted
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Barkhamsted has the most affordable homes ($368k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Andover | Lancaster | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
8,606Highest |
3,678 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.2±3.3 29% above U.S. |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barkhamsted and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 67% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$123,544±$9kLowest 53% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k 13% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$368,000±$15kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 17% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,164±$114Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,354Lowest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Nashoba | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.