Compare towns
Andover vs Reading vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Reading | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135 |
699Lowest |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest 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% |
30.7% 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% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Webster 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster 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±$44k 10% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$190 14% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 91% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% 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% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Webster 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Webster 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 | 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.