Compare towns
Acton vs Hull 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%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,138 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hull | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hull High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.