Compare towns
Acton vs Concord vs Townsend
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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
18,223 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Concord and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.