Compare towns
Acton vs Concord vs Worcester vs Andover
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Worcester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
18,223 |
831Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Concord and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Worcester 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% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% 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% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Concord and Andover 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. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.