Compare towns
Acton vs Deerfield vs Boxborough
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Deerfield | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,158Lowest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Acton 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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 |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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 |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Acton 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Deerfield · Frontier | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.