Compare towns

Windham vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).

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.

MeasureWindhamWebsterAndoverTownshend
People
Population
594Lowest
12,228Highest
616
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
37.2±2.1Lowest
4% 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%
21.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
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%
18.8%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%
6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster 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.
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% 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.
$333,100±$14k
about the U.S. average
$382,900±$68kHighest
15% above U.S.
$287,200±$79kLowest
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 —
$1,198±$85
15% below U.S.
$1,389±$364Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,074±$80Lowest
24% below U.S.
Andover and Webster 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.
$3,234Lowest
4% 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%
46.1%±7.4
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%
16%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%
45.5%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.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
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 — #271 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
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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.