Compare towns
Windham vs Acton 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 highest household income ($95k).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594 |
2,721Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest 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±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.