Compare towns
Acton vs Dummerston vs Boxborough vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Dummerston | Boxborough | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
2,090Lowest |
5,496 |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough 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±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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 | — | #31 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.