Compare towns
Webster vs Townsend 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 people working from home (17.1%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Townsend | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
9,100Highest |
2,135Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Webster 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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$366,500±$44k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,962Lowest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Andover 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.