Compare towns
Windham vs Hanson vs Andover vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Hanson | Andover | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,927Highest |
616 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
44±4.3Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Andover 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% |
25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Townshend 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. |
$119,211±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanson 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. |
$513,000±$55kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Andover and Townshend 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. |
$6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Andover 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.