Compare towns
Acton vs Marblehead vs Windham
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).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Marblehead | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
20,413 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Marblehead 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. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Marblehead | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Marblehead High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.