Compare towns

Windham vs Hanson vs Townshend vs Andover

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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamHansonTownshendAndover
People
Population
594Lowest
10,660Highest
1,538
616
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.
42.8±3Lowest
10% above U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
49.2±5.1
26% 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%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
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%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3
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%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Hanson and Andover 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.
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
$78,750±$29kLowest
about the U.S. average
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
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.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
$287,200±$79kLowest
14% below U.S.
$382,900±$68k
15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,389±$364
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.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
$5,364
72% above U.S.
$5,190Lowest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
69.4%±47.1
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%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±12.9Highest
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 — Whitman-Hanson West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A —
High school in town — Whitman Hanson Regional Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7Highest
8.1Lowest
—
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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.