Compare towns
Andover vs Becket vs Windham vs Brookline
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 most people working from home (29.6%).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Becket | Windham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,962Highest |
594 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Becket and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Andover and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
— | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Becket and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | — | — |
| High school 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.