Compare towns
Wilmington vs Reading vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($681k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Wilmington | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,336Lowest |
25,612 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,152±$19k 62% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,500±$19kLowest 21% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,394±$328Highest 36% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Wilmington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,704Lowest 29% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | #73 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wilmington | Reading | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Wilmington High | Reading Memorial High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.