Compare towns
Reading vs Dalton 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
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Reading | Dalton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
6,256Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% 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 | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.