Compare towns
Acton vs Burlington vs Pinehurst
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%).
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
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 | Burlington | Pinehurst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
26,274Highest |
6,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Burlington 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% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Pinehurst 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% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pinehurst 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 |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
| Acton and Burlington 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 |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$6,316 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.