Compare towns
Acton vs Carlisle vs Everett
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 shortest commute (35 min average).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,239Lowest |
50,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Everett and Acton 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Carlisle | Everett |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.