Compare towns
Acton vs Eastham vs Wellfleet 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 people working from home (35.9%).
Eastham has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Boxborough has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Eastham | Wellfleet | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,811 |
4,404Lowest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Eastham and Wellfleet 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% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Eastham and Wellfleet 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% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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 |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
| Wellfleet 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 |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% 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 |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham 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 MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 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 |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | — | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Eastham · Nauset | Wellfleet | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Nauset Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.