Compare towns
Acton vs Williston vs Concord vs Winchester
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Williston | Concord | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,144Lowest |
18,223 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Concord and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22k 142% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Concord 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72k 264% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
| Concord and Winchester 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #10 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Concord Carlisle High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
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.