Compare towns
Acton vs Williston vs Belmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k 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 | Williston | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
10,144Lowest |
27,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belmont 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belmont and Williston 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 96% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$183,137±$14kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Belmont 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±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 248% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Belmont 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.