Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Newton vs Concord
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).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Needham | Newton | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
18,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Concord 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
| Newton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Concord 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Newton | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | Newton North High | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9 |
10.8Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.