Compare towns
Acton vs Marblehead vs Needham 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%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Boxborough has the most affordable homes ($707k 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 | Needham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
20,413 |
32,459Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
80.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Needham 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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead 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±$31k 68% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boxborough 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Marblehead | Needham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Marblehead High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.