Compare towns
Acton vs Carlisle vs Needham
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 affordable homes ($807k median).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,239Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Carlisle 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% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| 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%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Needham 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% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Carlisle | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.