Compare towns
Acton vs Marblehead vs Millis
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%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Marblehead | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
20,413 |
8,888Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
| Marblehead and Millis 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Marblehead 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% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$155,996±$9kLowest 50% above MA |
| Marblehead 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Marblehead | Millis |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Marblehead High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.