Compare towns
Acton vs Stow vs Sutton
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
7,165Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Stow 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%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Sutton 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 MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Sutton 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Stow 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±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Acton and Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | Sutton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| 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.