Compare towns

Windham vs Westminster vs Brookline 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasureWindhamWestminsterBrooklineAndover
People
Population
594
8,374Highest
531Lowest
616
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+12.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
48.3±4.6
24% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Highest
26% above U.S.
Andover and Westminster 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%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Brookline 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%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline 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.
$106,331±$22kHighest
32% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
Westminster 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.
$422,000±$36kHighest
27% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$382,900±$68k
15% above U.S.
Westminster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,843±$268Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$1,389±$364Lowest
about the U.S. average
Westminster and Brookline 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.
$4,973Lowest
59% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$5,190
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±27.3
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Andover and Westminster 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover and Brookline 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 — #112 of 282 in MA — —
School district — Ashburnham-Westminster — —
High school in town — Oakmont Regional High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.6
— —
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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.