Compare towns
Windham vs Andover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Andover has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Windham | Andover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Lowest |
36,652Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kLowest 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.