Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Windham vs Boxborough
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Windham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
19,188 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Andover 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%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% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% 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% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxborough 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Andover 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | RSU 14 | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.