Compare towns
Winchester vs Reading vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k 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.
| Measure | Winchester | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406Lowest |
25,612 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Winchester 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% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Reading | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Reading Memorial High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.