Compare towns
Acton vs Putnam vs Belmont
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 homeowners (74.9%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Putnam | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
7,120Lowest |
27,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 96% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$183,137±$14kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| 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 143% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 248% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| 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.