Compare towns
Windham vs Acton vs Andover vs Ripton
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 most affordable homes ($354k median).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Andover | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
24,155Highest |
616 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 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+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Andover 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.