Compare towns
Andover vs Harvard 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Harvard | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
6,927Highest |
699 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1%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. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest 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% |
62%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% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Harvard 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. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Harvard 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 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. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Andover 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Harvard | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.