Compare towns
Acton vs Lawrence vs Belmont
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 homeowners (74.9%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k 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 | Lawrence | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
88,736Highest |
27,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Acton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Belmont 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Belmont 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belmont and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA |
| Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Acton 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Belmont 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Lawrence | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lawrence High School | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
13.6 |
15.8Highest |
| 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.