Compare towns
Acton vs Douglas 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%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Douglas | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,207 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Acton and Douglas 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 |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% 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 |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Douglas | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.