What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Derry
People
Population	24,155Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S.	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Acton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Derry 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%	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry 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±$14kHighest 96% above U.S.	$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$8,103Lowest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 282 in MA	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Acton-Boxborough	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Acton-Boxborough Regional High	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.