Compare towns
Acton vs Worcester vs Needham vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Worcester | Needham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
207,055Highest |
32,459 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
| Carlisle 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Carlisle 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Needham 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Needham | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | South High Community | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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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.