Compare towns
Acton vs Reading vs Walpole vs Boxborough
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Reading | Walpole | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Acton and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Walpole 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.