Compare towns
Acton vs Boxborough vs Dover
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,496 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover 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%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Boxborough 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 |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
— |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.