Compare towns
Acton vs Woonsocket vs Winchester vs Andover
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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Woonsocket | Winchester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
43,521Highest |
23,406Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Andover 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% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Andover 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,279±$481Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Andover 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #11 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Winchester | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Woonsocket High School | Winchester High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
15.2Highest |
14.8 |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.