Compare towns
Andover vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Townsend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
9,100Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Andover 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 |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Townsend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Windham 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.