Compare towns

Andover vs Hampton Beach 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 highest household income ($103k).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureAndoverHampton BeachReading
People
Population
616Lowest
2,605Highest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±5.1Lowest
26% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.5%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
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%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach 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%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Reading and Andover 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.
$82,557±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$85,000±$19k
5% above 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±$68k
15% above U.S.
$508,900±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Andover 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
$1,375±$130
about the U.S. average
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
Andover and Hampton Beach 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.
$6,115Highest
96% above U.S.
$5,754
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.