Compare towns

Windham vs Hull vs Acton vs Hudson

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%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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.

MeasureWindhamHullActonHudson
People
Population
16,038
10,138Lowest
24,155
25,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
56.1±1.8Highest
44% above U.S.
44.5±0.8
14% above U.S.
45.7±1.9
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±2.1
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%
26.1%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hull and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Acton 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.
$115,485±$14kLowest
43% above U.S.
$158,230±$14k
96% above U.S.
$124,213±$6k
54% 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.
$646,000±$38k
94% above U.S.
$807,300±$20kHighest
143% above U.S.
$438,900±$11kLowest
32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,081±$187
47% above U.S.
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
$1,735±$123Lowest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,089Lowest
95% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,636
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
34.3%±7.2Lowest
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%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1946Lowest
34 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.7%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #13 of 120 in NH #66 of 282 in MA #13 of 282 in MA #63 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Hull Acton-Boxborough Hudson School District
High school in town Windham High School Hull High Acton-Boxborough Regional High Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
8.8Lowest
13.5Highest
11.6
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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.