Compare towns
Andover vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Webster | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
2,227Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Webster 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Webster 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±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Andover and Webster 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 |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.