Compare towns
Andover vs Windham vs Reading vs Chester
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%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Windham | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
16,038Highest |
699 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Reading and Chester 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Reading 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 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.