Compare towns
Windham vs Plympton vs Worcester 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
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Plympton | Worcester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,935Highest |
831 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% 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% |
21.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plympton 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Plympton 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% |
38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Plympton 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. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Plympton 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. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Worcester 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. |
$6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Plympton 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% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | — | #110 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Plympton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.