Compare towns
Andover vs Windham vs Worcester vs Chester
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%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Windham | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
594Lowest |
207,055Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Andover and Worcester 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 |
— | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Worcester 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Worcester 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 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 | — | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | South High Community | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.