Compare towns
Andover vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Lancaster | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
3,216Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above 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%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Reading 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$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±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Andover and Reading 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.