Compare towns
Andover vs Bath vs Reading vs Ludlow
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%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bath | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,097 |
699 |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
48.6±8.6Lowest 25% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Reading 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% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$67,813±$22k 16% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below 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 | $382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Bath 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. |
$4,413Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 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 | ||||
| School district | — | Bath School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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 | 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.