Compare towns
Andover vs Hardwick vs Salisbury
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 most expensive homes ($367k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Hardwick | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135 |
2,684Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Salisbury 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% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27k 10% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover 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. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Andover 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Andover School District | Quabbin | Merrimack Valley 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.