Compare towns
Andover vs North Reading vs Windham
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%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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 | North Reading | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
15,765Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Andover 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. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and North 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Reading | — |
| High school in town | — | North Reading High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.