What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most affordable homes ($367k median).

South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	South Eliot
People
Population	2,135Lowest	4,203Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±11.6Lowest 18% above U.S.	55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S.
	South Eliot 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%	15.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Eliot 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%	32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Eliot 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%	49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Andover and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S.	$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S.
	South Eliot 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±$44kLowest 10% above U.S.	$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S.	$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Highest 91% above U.S.	$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Eliot 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%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Eliot 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.