Compare towns
Acton vs Lenox 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%).
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
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 | Lenox | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
5,079Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
| Acton and Carlisle 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 |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle 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% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Lenox | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.6Lowest |
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| 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.