Compare towns
Acton vs Dover vs Marblehead
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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Marblehead has the shortest commute (33 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 | Dover | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
2,308Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
— | $1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.