Compare towns
Windham vs Spencer 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 most kids (17.5% under 18).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Spencer | Worcester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
12,008Highest |
831 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Spencer 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1%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% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Spencer 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. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$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. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Spencer 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. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Spencer 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% |
11%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% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% 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% |
15%±7.3Lowest 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | David Prouty High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.