Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Reading 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 renters (25.1% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Reading | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459Highest |
25,612 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Reading 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% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
| 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 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Needham and Reading 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Reading | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
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| 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.