Compare towns
Acton vs Williamstown vs Boxborough
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williamstown | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,150 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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 |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
| 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 |
$5,290Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Williamstown 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% |
11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Williamstown 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 | #45 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Mount Greylock | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Mt Greylock Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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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.