Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Worcester vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
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 | Worcester | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459 |
207,055Highest |
18,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Concord and Needham 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±$183 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%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 |
1951Lowest 13 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 |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | South High Community | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.9 |
14.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.