What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Jefferson
People
Population	616Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson 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%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Andover and Jefferson 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.	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Andover and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,190Highest 66% above U.S.	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.4%±47.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Andover 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.