Compare towns
Reading vs Springfield vs Stoddard 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).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Springfield | Stoddard | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,122Highest |
1,072 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Stoddard 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Stoddard 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Andover 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. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% 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 | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — | Stoddard School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.