What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the youngest population (median age 46).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Reading
People
Population	2,135Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±11.6Lowest 18% above U.S.	51.1±7.6Highest 31% 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	13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Reading 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%	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading 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%	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Reading 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±$27kHighest 10% above U.S.	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kLowest 10% above U.S.	$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Reading and Andover 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.	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Andover and Reading 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.	$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading 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	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.