Compare towns
Acton vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
16,038Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
| Acton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% 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%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Acton 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Windham School District | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Windham High School | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.