What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Winchester	Andover
People
Population	23,406Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA	$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
	Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Andover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Winchester 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	#11 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Winchester	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Winchester High School	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.