Compare towns
Acton vs Newfields vs Belmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k median).
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 | Newfields | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
2,023Lowest |
27,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belmont 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Belmont 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 96% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$183,137±$14k 127% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 248% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Belmont 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Belmont 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 | — | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Newfields School District | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.