Compare towns
Acton vs Dover vs Concord vs Stow
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 highest household income ($250k).
Concord has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k 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.
| Measure | Acton | Dover | Concord | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,930Lowest |
18,223 |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Concord and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Concord 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Stow 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Concord 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 |
$195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,631±$166 49% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Concord 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.