Compare towns
Reading vs Jefferson 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).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Jefferson | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
1,013Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Jefferson 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% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Jefferson 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$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. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 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. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% 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. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 photos → | 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.