Compare towns
Acton vs Hull vs Mashpee 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%).
Hull has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Mashpee | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,138 |
15,384 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
55.9±1.8 40% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hull and Mashpee 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% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough 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±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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 |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,776±$330Lowest about the MA average |
$1,887±$173 7% above 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 |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Hull 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
81.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #100 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hull | Mashpee | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hull High | Mashpee Middle-High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.8Lowest |
9.6 |
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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.