Compare towns
Andover vs Salem vs Chester
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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Salem | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
44,795Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester 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% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Chester 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Chester 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. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below 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 | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Salem 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Salem | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.