Compare towns
Acton vs Carlisle vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,239Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Carlisle 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% |
23.2%±4.5Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Carlisle 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 |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Acton and Carlisle 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 |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Carlisle | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.