Compare towns
Acton vs Lancaster vs Concord
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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 | Lancaster | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
8,606Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Concord and Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.