Compare towns
Andover vs Salisbury vs Ludlow
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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
1,609 |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Salisbury 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% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Ludlow 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow 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±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover 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. |
$363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ludlow 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,112±$151Lowest 21% 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. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ludlow 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% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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.