Compare towns
Andover vs Cornwall vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | Cornwall | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Cornwall 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.