Compare towns
Acton vs Dedham vs Winchester vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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.
| Measure | Acton | Dedham | Winchester | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
25,237Highest |
23,406 |
18,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
| Concord and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Dedham 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 MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Concord 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 52% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Concord and Winchester 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 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Acton 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham | Winchester | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dedham High | Winchester High School | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.