Compare towns
Acton vs Chatham vs Concord
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%).
Chatham has the oldest population (median age 63.4).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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 | Chatham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
6,681Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord 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% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord 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 |
$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$942,800±$78k 68% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Chatham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #130 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Monomoy Regional School District | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.