Compare towns
Peacham vs Springfield 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
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Peacham | Springfield | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
1,122Highest |
699 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% 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 | $5,605 80% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Peacham School District | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.