Compare towns
Acton vs Concord vs Mendon vs Stow
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).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($616k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Mendon | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
18,223 |
6,325Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Stow 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 MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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 52% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Concord and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$616,000±$37kLowest 10% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Stow 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Concord 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.