Compare towns
Acton vs Carlisle vs Andover
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Carlisle | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,239Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Carlisle | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.