Compare towns
Acton vs Pinehurst vs Andover 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 renters (25.1% rent).
Pinehurst has the most affordable homes ($624k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Pinehurst | Andover | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
6,845Lowest |
36,652Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Acton and Andover 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% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Andover 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% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Pinehurst 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 |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
| Winchester and Andover 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 |
$6,316Lowest 5% 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%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 12.8Lowest |
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.