Compare towns
Andover vs Gardner vs Windham vs Ludlow
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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Gardner | Windham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
21,148Highest |
594Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Windham 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% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Andover and Ludlow 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ludlow 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.