Compare towns
Acton vs Ware vs Boxborough vs Stow
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 expensive homes ($807k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Ware | Boxborough | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
10,048 |
5,496Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% 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%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Acton and Boxborough 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Stow 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Ware | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.