What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).

Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).

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	Bethel
People
Population	2,135Lowest	2,617Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±11.6Lowest 18% above U.S.	50.2±6.4Highest 29% above U.S.
	Bethel and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bethel and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.1%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.3%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethel and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kHighest 10% above U.S.	$58,929±$23kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Andover and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S.	$344,900±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Andover and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190Highest 14% below U.S.	$864±$43Lowest 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Highest 91% above U.S.	$2,835Lowest 9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.3%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.7%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#49 of 133 in ME
School district	Andover School District	RSU 44/MSAD 44
High school in town	None in town	Telstar High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.