Compare towns
Acton vs Chester vs Belmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k 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 | Chester | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
2,992Lowest |
27,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belmont 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belmont and Chester 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 96% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$183,137±$14kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 248% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Belmont 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Green Mountain Union High School | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
8.7Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.