What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Plaistow
People
Population	24,155Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Acton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Acton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Plaistow 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%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Acton and Plaistow 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.	$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 282 in MA	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Acton-Boxborough	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Acton-Boxborough Regional High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.