Compare towns
Andover vs Reading vs Wilmington
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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Wilmington has the most homeowners (88.1%).
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 | Reading | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
699Lowest |
23,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.3±2.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$168,152±$19k 108% above U.S. |
| Andover and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$680,500±$19k 105% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,394±$328Highest 69% above U.S. |
| Wilmington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,704 147% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — | #73 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | 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.