Compare towns
Reading vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k 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 | Putnam | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Highest |
540Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Putnam 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Putnam 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. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None 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.