Compare towns
Windham vs Townsend vs Townshend 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 homeowners (82.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Townsend | Townshend | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,538 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Andover 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Andover 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.