Compare towns
Acton vs Epping vs Needham vs Carlisle
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Needham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
7,430 |
32,459Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Carlisle and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Carlisle 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% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| 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%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Epping 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Epping School District | Needham | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Epping High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.9 |
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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.