Compare towns
Acton vs Dunstable vs Harvard vs Boxborough
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Dunstable | Harvard | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
3,408Lowest |
6,927 |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Acton and Harvard 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Harvard 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% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Boxborough 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 |
$208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable 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 |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Harvard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$9,020Lowest 51% above 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% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.