Compare towns
Acton vs Pelham vs Windham vs Concord
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).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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 | Pelham | Windham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
14,449Lowest |
16,038 |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Concord 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 96% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Concord and Windham 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. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166 86% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% 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%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Concord 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Pelham School District | Windham School District | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pelham High School | Windham High School | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
11.4 |
| 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.