Compare towns
Acton vs Middleton vs Pinehurst
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%).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Pinehurst has the most affordable homes ($624k 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 | Middleton | Pinehurst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,816 |
6,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Pinehurst 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% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Middleton 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pinehurst 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
| Middleton 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±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
| Acton and Pinehurst 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 |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Middleton | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.