Compare towns
Acton vs Concord vs Lee
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%).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
18,223 |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest 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% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Lee 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 |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Lee |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.