Compare towns
Andover vs Wakefield vs Windham vs Brookline
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%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Wakefield | Windham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
5,405Highest |
594 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 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% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Wakefield 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. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Andover and Windham 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 |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Wakefield School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.