Compare towns
Andover vs Salem vs Weston
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 affordable homes ($383k median).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Weston has the oldest population (median age 60.5).
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 | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
30,964Highest |
685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
60.5±7Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Weston 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% |
16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Weston 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
44.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Weston 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±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$537,700±$77kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Weston and Salem 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 |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,375±$729Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$7,076Highest 127% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weston and Andover 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.