Compare towns
Acton vs Dedham 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 the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Dedham | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
25,237Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Stow 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Acton 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 |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.