Compare towns

Reading vs Heath 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 most kids (18.5% under 18).
Heath has the most affordable homes ($295k 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.

MeasureReadingHeathAndover
People
Population
699
765Highest
616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
53.8±11.9Highest
38% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Lowest
26% above U.S.
Heath and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Heath 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%
33.6%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Heath 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%
46.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Heath and Reading 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.
$98,750±$23k
22% above U.S.
$102,500±$38kHighest
27% above U.S.
Andover and Heath 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.
$295,000±$45kLowest
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±$331Lowest
22% 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.
$4,438Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,190
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
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%
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±12.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 — —
High school in town None in town — —
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.