Compare towns
Acton vs Epping vs Boxborough vs Andover
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Epping | Boxborough | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
7,430 |
5,496Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Epping and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Acton 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Acton 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover 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 96% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Andover 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±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% 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% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Andover 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #31 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Epping School District | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Epping High School | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| 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.