Compare towns
Andover vs Dummerston vs Acton 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
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Andover | Dummerston | Acton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
2,090Lowest |
24,155 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest 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+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481Highest 61% 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% 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 | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton-Boxborough | Winchester |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.5 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.