Compare towns
Andover vs Danvers 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%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
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 | Danvers | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
28,098Highest |
699 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% 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% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Danvers 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. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Danvers 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. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%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. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 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. |
28 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% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.