Compare towns
Acton vs Stratham 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
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Stratham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
7,754 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Stratham 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% |
69.9%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%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$151,998±$20kLowest 88% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Acton 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. |
$9,781Lowest 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.