Compare towns
Windham vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Ware | Townshend | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,538 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
15.4%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% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k 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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above 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 | — | $1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Townshend 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. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest 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% |
57.4%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. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Lowest 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.