Compare towns
Windham vs Salisbury vs Brookline 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).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($466k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Salisbury | Brookline | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
5,656Highest |
531Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
12.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Windham 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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. |
$92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above 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. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Brookline 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. |
$4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| 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.