What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k median).

Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k 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	Belmont	Acton
People
Population	27,175Highest	24,155Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA
	Acton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA	$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA
	Belmont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA	$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA	$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Acton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	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	#3 of 282 in MA	#13 of 282 in MA
School district	Belmont	Acton-Boxborough
High school in town	Belmont High	Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	13.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.