Compare towns
Exeter vs Reading vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Exeter | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Highest |
699 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest 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 | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.