Compare towns
Andover vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Salisbury | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
9,281Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Salisbury 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8%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% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Salisbury 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. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Triton | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.