Compare towns

Peru vs Dover 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

Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasurePeruDoverAndover
People
Population
434Lowest
5,930Highest
616
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.3±8.6
16% above U.S.
44.9±2.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Highest
26% above U.S.
Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.5%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.4%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
84.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83k
88% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$102,500±$38kLowest
27% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$400,000±$105k
20% above U.S.
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
303% above U.S.
$382,900±$68kLowest
15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820Lowest
10% below U.S.
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
$1,389±$364
about the U.S. average
Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,190
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±12.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #1 of 282 in MA —
School district — Dover · Dover-Sherborn —
High school in town — Dover-Sherborn Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
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.