Compare towns
Acton vs Ogunquit vs Andover 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
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Ogunquit | Andover | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
1,379Lowest |
36,652Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Andover 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 143% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
— | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Carlisle 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.