Compare towns
Windham vs Acton vs Hull
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
24,155Highest |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$115,485±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38kLowest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hull and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham School District | Acton-Boxborough | Hull |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.