Compare towns
Acton vs Windham vs Boxborough
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Windham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
16,038 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 96% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35kLowest 79% above U.S. |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72kLowest 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxborough and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Windham School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.