What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).

Andover has the most people working from home (11.7%).

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	Parsonsfield	Andover
People
Population	1,715Lowest	2,135Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S.	46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S.
	Andover and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Andover and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Andover and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S.	$88,514±$27kHighest 10% above U.S.
	Andover and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$21kLowest 18% below U.S.	$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,185±$312Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,211±$190Highest 14% below U.S.
	Andover and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S.	$5,962Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Parsonsfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 83% above U.S.	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Andover School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.