Compare towns
Windham vs Essex vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Essex | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
11,516Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kLowest 16% above VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Essex and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Essex and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,389±$364Lowest 13% above VT |
| Essex and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,190Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Essex 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 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.