Compare towns
Acton vs Maynard vs Rowley
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%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Maynard | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,712 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46.3±16.7Highest 16% above MA |
| Rowley and Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Rowley 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Maynard 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,663±$674Lowest 6% below MA |
| Acton and Maynard 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Rowley 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Maynard | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Maynard High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.