Compare towns
Acton vs Devens vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (85.1%).
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 | Devens | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
1,723Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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 |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Devens 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 |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.