What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Painted Post has the most affordable homes ($156k 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	Painted Post
People
Population	616Lowest	1,824Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S.	45.7±5.2Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Andover and Painted Post 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%	16.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Painted Post and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Andover and Painted Post 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%	36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Painted Post and Andover 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.	$62,891±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
	Andover and Painted Post 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.	$155,900±$13kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average	$839±$281Lowest 41% below U.S.
	Andover and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S.	$5,442Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	63.4%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Andover and Painted Post 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%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover and Painted Post 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.