Compare towns
Andover vs Orange 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 most people working from home (29.6%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
7,573Highest |
699 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% 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±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below 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 |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% 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. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 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. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.