Compare towns
Brookline vs Wakefield vs Windham vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Brookline | Wakefield | Windham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
5,405Highest |
594 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% 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 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 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 | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above 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 | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest 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 | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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.