Compare towns
Andover vs Ira 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 youngest population (median age 46).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
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 | Ira | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Highest |
381Lowest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Ira and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira 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. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% 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. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below 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. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% 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. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Andover School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school 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.