Compare towns
Acton vs Stow vs Belmont
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Stow has the most homeowners (85.4%).
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 | Stow | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
7,165Lowest |
27,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Belmont and Stow 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% |
75.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$183,137±$14k 76% above MA |
| Stow and Belmont 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 |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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 MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.