Compare towns
Andover vs Hampton Beach 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 highest household income ($103k).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,605Highest |
699 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% 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. |
52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Ludlow 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% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Ludlow 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% |
31.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Ludlow 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% |
45.1% 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%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow 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. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below 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±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kLowest 11% 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. |
$1,112±$151 21% 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 | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% 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% |
61.7%±20.2 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% |
8.2% 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% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 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. |
25 min 4% below 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% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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.