Compare towns
Acton vs Winchester vs Carlisle
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 affordable homes ($807k median).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Carlisle has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
23,406 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Carlisle 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% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below 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% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Winchester | Carlisle |
| 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 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.