Compare towns
Reading vs Andover vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Andover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612 |
36,652Highest |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.