Compare towns
Andover vs Lowell vs Windham vs Reading
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%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Andover | Lowell | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
118,368Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Reading 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Lowell and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Andover 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. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Lowell | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Lowell High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.