Compare towns
Andover vs Reading vs Stratham 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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Stratham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
699 |
7,754Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest 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% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and Andover 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±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% 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% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Stratham 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.