Compare towns
Acton vs Boxborough vs Dedham
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%).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Boxborough | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,496Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Dedham 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 52% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boxborough 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.