Compare towns
Reading vs Dunstable vs Andover vs Peacham
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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Dunstable | Andover | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
3,408Highest |
616Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and Peacham 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest 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+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Andover and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 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 | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #4 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Groton-Dunstable | — | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.