Compare towns
Acton vs Middlesex vs Winchester 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%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Middlesex | Winchester | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
1,943Lowest |
23,406 |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Winchester 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,279±$481Highest 61% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #11 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Winchester | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Winchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
— |
| 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.