Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Putney vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
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 | Needham | Putney | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459Highest |
2,622Lowest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.