Compare towns
Acton vs Bow vs Needham vs Boxborough
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 the most people working from home (35.9%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Needham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
8,335 |
32,459Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Bow 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 96% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35kLowest 79% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% 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. |
$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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Boxborough 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Bow School District | Needham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bow High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
11.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.