Compare towns
Andover vs Colrain 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%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Colrain | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,627Highest |
699 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% 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±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77 22% 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. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
7.2% 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% |
86.5%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. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 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. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±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 | — | Mohawk Trail | 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.