Compare towns
Acton vs Boxborough vs Gray
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%).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,496Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Acton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray 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% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Gray 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. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 143% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.