Compare towns
Acton vs Hadley vs Upton 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%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Hadley | Upton | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,306Lowest |
8,189 |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Upton 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% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Acton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hopkins Academy | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.3Lowest |
11.2 |
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| 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.