Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Plainfield vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k 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.
| Measure | Acton | Andover | Plainfield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
1,314Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,279±$481Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | — | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.8Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.