Compare towns
Acton vs Bow vs Concord
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%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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 | Bow | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
8,335Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Concord 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Concord 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 96% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Concord 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Bow School District | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bow High School | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.