Compare towns
Andover vs Putnam vs Reading vs Brookline
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%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Putnam | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
540 |
699Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Reading 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% 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±$364 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Andover 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 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 | ||||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 | 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.