Compare towns
Andover vs Durham vs Reading
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
15,080Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Durham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.