Compare towns
Andover vs Milton vs Wareham vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k 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 | Andover | Milton | Wareham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
28,587 |
23,302Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton | Wareham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton High | Wareham Senior High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.4 |
8.6Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.