What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).

Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jefferson	Andover
People
Population	1,226Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.	49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Andover and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Andover and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.	$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.	$5,190Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	69.4%±47.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	23.6%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.