Compare towns
Andover vs Reading vs Salem
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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k 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 | Reading | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
699 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Salem 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
| Andover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Andover 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Salem |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.