Compare towns
Acton vs Maynard vs Upton vs Wrentham
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).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Upton | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,712 |
8,189Lowest |
12,297 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
| Wrentham and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham and Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham 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±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
| Acton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$654,900±$26k 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,184±$628 33% 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,373Lowest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Maynard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Maynard High | Blackstone Valley | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.2 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.