Compare towns
Salisbury vs Hardwick 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
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
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 | Salisbury | Hardwick | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
2,684Highest |
2,135 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$88,514±$27k 10% 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 | $363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,962Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Quabbin | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None 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.