Compare towns
Acton vs Dracut vs Middleborough
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%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k 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 | Dracut | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
32,574Highest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Acton and Middleborough 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% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Dracut 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% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dracut 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 52% above MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,706±$72Lowest 3% below MA |
| Acton and Dracut 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 |
$5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dracut | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dracut Senior High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.