Compare towns
Acton vs Calais vs Dummerston vs Boxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Calais | Dummerston | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
| Dummerston 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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 96% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| 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 143% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxborough and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.