Compare towns
Acton vs Putnam 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
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,292 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Carlisle 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Carlisle 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855 7% below U.S. |
| Acton and Carlisle 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Putnam School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.