Compare towns
Acton vs Halifax vs Pinehurst
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%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Halifax | Pinehurst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
7,748 |
6,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
| Acton and Pinehurst 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% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pinehurst and Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
| Acton and Pinehurst 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 |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
| Acton and Pinehurst 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 |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Halifax | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.