Compare towns
Andover vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Dedham | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
25,237Highest |
699 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%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. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Dedham 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Dedham 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. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest 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% |
5.6% 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% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 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. |
29 min 11% above 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% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.