Compare towns
Andover vs Windham vs Worcester vs Reading
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%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
594Lowest |
207,055Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%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. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% 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% |
3.1%±2.5 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±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
8.4% 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% |
84.9%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. |
1969 11 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. |
33 minHighest 25% 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% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — |
| School district | — | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | — | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.