Compare towns
Acton vs Belmont vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k median).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Acton | Belmont | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
27,175Highest |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
| Maynard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Belmont and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% 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±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest 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 | #166 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.