Compare towns
Andover vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
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 | Salisbury | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
9,281Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest 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% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Lowest 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%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. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Triton | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.