Compare towns
Windham vs Springfield vs Andover vs Townshend
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 homeowners (82.9%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Springfield | Andover | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
154,749Highest |
616 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 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% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Andover and Springfield 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. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Springfield | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.