Compare towns
Acton vs Hamilton vs Marblehead 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%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 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 | Hamilton | Marblehead | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
7,600 |
20,413 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Hamilton 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% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Marblehead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton 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 MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8 |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.