Compare towns
Acton vs Townsend vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,100 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$14k 52% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | North Middlesex | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
13.1Lowest |
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| 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.