Compare towns
Acton vs Everett vs Fall River vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Everett | Fall River | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Acton and Winchester 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester 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 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Acton 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
| Winchester and Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below 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%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.