Compare towns
Windham vs Lynn vs Andover vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Lynn | Andover | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
101,709Highest |
616 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Andover and Worcester 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% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn 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% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lynn 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. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Andover and Windham 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. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lynn and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Worcester 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 | — | #277 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Lynn | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Lynn English High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0 |
— | — |
| 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.