Compare towns
Andover vs Ware vs Brookline vs Ludlow
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%).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ware | Brookline | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
10,048Highest |
531Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ludlow 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below 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 | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ludlow 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 | — | Ware | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| 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.