Compare towns
Webster vs Braintree 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
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($367k 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 | Webster | Braintree | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,135 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,514±$27k 10% above U.S. |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above 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 | $1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,962 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.