Compare towns
Windham vs Halifax vs Andover vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Halifax | Andover | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
7,748Highest |
616 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Halifax 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±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.