Compare towns
Acton vs Peabody 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 homeowners (74.9%).
Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k median).
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 | Peabody | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
54,695Highest |
27,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Peabody 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% |
18.7%±1.8Lowest 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% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belmont 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA |
| Belmont and Acton 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 |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Acton 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Peabody | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.3Lowest |
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.