Compare towns
Durham vs Andover vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Durham | Andover | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
36,652Highest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$96,309±$12kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #68 of 282 in MA | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.