Compare towns
Windham vs Acton vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Windham | Acton | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
24,155Highest |
10,662Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #13 of 282 in MA | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Acton-Boxborough | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.