Compare towns
Andover vs Atkinson vs Reading vs Brookline
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 people working from home (29.6%).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
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 | Atkinson | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
7,267Highest |
699 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Atkinson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — | #32 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional 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 | 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.