Compare towns
Acton vs Walpole vs Concord
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).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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 | Walpole | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
26,388Highest |
18,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Concord 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord 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±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
| Concord and Walpole 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 |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Concord 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Walpole High | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.