Compare towns
Windham vs Acton vs Townshend vs Brookline
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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Townshend | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
24,155Highest |
1,538 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Brookline 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Brookline 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% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Brookline 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. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Acton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% 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% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Brookline 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 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 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.