What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Winthrop	Acton
People
Population	6,191Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
	Acton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.4%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Acton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Acton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,470±$4kHighest 16% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Winthrop and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average	$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME
	Acton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$892±$319 22% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,506Highest 15% above ME	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±22.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 41% above ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Winthrop and Acton 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	#12 of 133 in ME	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Winthrop Public Schools	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	Winthrop High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.