Compare towns
Acton vs Boxborough vs Maynard
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%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,496Lowest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard 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% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Acton 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% 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 |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Acton 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough | Maynard |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.