Compare towns
Windham vs Acton vs Chester
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 (27 min average).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
24,155Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Acton 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Windham 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.