Compare towns

Andover vs Rochester vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureAndoverRochesterReading
People
Population
616Lowest
1,389Highest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.2±5.1Lowest
14% above VT
53.3±7.6Highest
24% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
Rochester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.5%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
10.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±4.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Rochester 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5
VT: 7%
0.4%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
Reading 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
26% above VT
$72,676±$8kLowest
11% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
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
21% above VT
$253,600±$81kLowest
20% below VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
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
13% above VT
$929±$158Lowest
25% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
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
about the VT average
$3,977Lowest
21% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.4%±47.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
62.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
18.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% above VT
27 min
17% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
29.6%±12.9
VT: 16.9%
40.8%±27.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Rochester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.