Compare towns
Acton vs Danvers vs Concord vs Boxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Danvers | Concord | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
28,098Highest |
18,223 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Concord and Danvers 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 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% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough 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 |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Concord Carlisle High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.