Compare towns
Acton vs Stow 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).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k 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 | Stow | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
7,165Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Acton and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow 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% |
75.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
| 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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 MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.