What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k median).

Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k 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.

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

Measure	Acton	Belmont
People
Population	24,155Lowest	27,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA
	Acton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA	$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Acton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%	3.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Acton and Belmont 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	#3 of 282 in MA
School district	Acton-Boxborough	Belmont
High school in town	Acton-Boxborough Regional High	Belmont High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	15.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.