Compare towns
Andover vs Cairo vs Reading vs Chester
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%).
Cairo has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Cairo | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
6,700Highest |
699 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
44.2±4.2Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Reading and Chester 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% |
17.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Cairo 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Cairo 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. |
$79,643±$22k about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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. |
$263,400±$18k 21% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below 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±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,015±$305 28% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% 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 | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,246Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 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 | — | #461 of 484 in NY | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.