Compare towns
Acton vs Concord vs Hudson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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 | Concord | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
18,223Lowest |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
| Concord and Hudson 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% |
23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Concord 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. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord and Acton 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.