What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).

Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Strafford
People
Population	36,652Highest	4,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S.	46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford and Andover 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%	40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.6Lowest 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.	$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S.	$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S.	$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Andover 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Strafford School District
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

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.