What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).

Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Westminster
People
Population	24,155Highest	497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S.	43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Acton and Westminster 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%	28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster and Acton 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%	19.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S.	$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S.	$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S.	$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Westminster 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%	2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	30 minLowest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.1%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Westminster 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	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Acton-Boxborough	—
High school in town	Acton-Boxborough Regional High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.