Compare towns
Acton vs Newton vs Belmont
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).
Newton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Newton | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
89,044Highest |
27,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Acton and Belmont 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% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Belmont and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
80.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$183,137±$14k 76% above MA |
| Newton 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±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$1,159,000±$33k 106% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Belmont and Newton 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Newton | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Newton North High | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.8Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.