Compare towns
Acton vs Epping vs Hampstead vs Boxborough
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).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Epping | Hampstead | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
7,430 |
9,102 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest 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% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Epping 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 96% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| 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±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% 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% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer 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. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.