Compare towns
Acton vs Hull vs Upton
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%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
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 | Hull | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,138 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Hull 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 |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% 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 |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Hull and Acton 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 |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.