Compare towns
Andover vs Maynard vs Acton vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Maynard | Acton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
10,712Lowest |
24,155 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Maynard 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough | Winchester |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.7Lowest |
13.5 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.