Compare towns
Acton vs Melrose 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 the most affordable homes ($807k median).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Melrose | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
29,650Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Melrose 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 |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Acton and Melrose 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 |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Melrose | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Melrose High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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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.