Compare towns
Acton vs Hadley vs Upton vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Hadley | Upton | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,306 |
8,189 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%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% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
| 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% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle 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% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 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 |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Carlisle |
| 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.