Compare towns
Reading vs Salisbury 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Salisbury | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
1,609Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Reading 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
37.3%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%±1.1Lowest 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±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover 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. |
$363,400±$47kLowest 9% above 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. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury 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. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury 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 | Merrimack Valley 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.