Compare towns
Andover vs Winchester vs Acton
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).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Winchester | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
23,406Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Andover 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% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 75.6%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% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Andover 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest 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 | #11 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Winchester | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Winchester High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.