Compare towns
Acton vs Winchester vs Boxborough
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Boxborough has the most affordable homes ($707k 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 | Winchester | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
23,406 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Acton 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 |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% 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% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #11 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Winchester | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.