Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Windsor Locks
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Acton 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.