Compare towns
Acton vs Brewster vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Brewster | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,420 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Carlisle 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 |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Acton and Brewster 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 |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Brewster | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
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| 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.