Compare towns
Acton vs Dracut vs Needham vs Concord
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Needham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,574Highest |
32,459 |
18,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Concord 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Needham 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 |
$114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Concord and Needham 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 |
$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Concord and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dracut | Needham | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dracut Senior High | Needham High | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
11.9 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.