Compare towns
Acton vs Kingston 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%).
Kingston has the most affordable homes ($611k 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 | Kingston | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
14,027 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
46.5±3.9Highest 16% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kingston and Acton 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% |
19.9%±3.2Lowest 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% |
22.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Kingston and Acton 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% |
48.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$119,876±$13kLowest 15% above 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 |
$610,600±$30kLowest 9% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,159±$244Lowest 34% below MA |
$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 |
$7,650Lowest 28% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #99 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Kingston · Silver Lake | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Silver Lake Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.