Compare towns
Acton vs Boxborough vs Springfield
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,496Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Acton 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough | Springfield |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.