Compare towns
Reading vs Hanson vs Andover vs West Windsor
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 most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Hanson | Andover | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
10,660Highest |
616Lowest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and West Windsor 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% |
19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Hanson and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Andover 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Whitman-Hanson | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.