Compare towns
Acton vs Boxborough vs Sutton vs Upton
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,496Lowest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Acton and Upton 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Upton 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% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.