Compare towns
Andover vs Windsor Locks 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
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | Acton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
12,579Lowest |
24,155 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% 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 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Acton 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 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. |
22 minLowest 17% 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% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #13 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks School District | Acton-Boxborough | Winchester |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
8.9Lowest |
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.