Compare towns
Acton vs Berlin vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Berlin | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Middlesex 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.