Compare towns
Acton vs Plainfield vs Concord
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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 | Plainfield | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
1,314Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Concord 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Concord 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord 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 96% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.