Compare towns
Andover vs Plainville vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 46).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
9,943Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 10% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 91% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Webster 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 | — | #102 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Andover School District | Plainville | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.