Compare towns
Andover vs Salem vs Windham vs Reading
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 affordable homes ($196k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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.
| Measure | Andover | Salem | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
2,611Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% 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% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.