Compare towns
Acton vs Milton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Milton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Milton | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
28,587Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Milton | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.4Lowest |
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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.