Compare towns
Andover vs Reading vs Ware 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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Reading | Ware | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
699 |
10,048Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% 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±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Andover and Reading 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ware 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.