Compare towns
Belmont vs Milton vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k median).
Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Belmont | Milton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,175 |
28,587Highest |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Belmont 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 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% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $183,137±$14k 76% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Milton and Belmont 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 |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belmont | Milton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Belmont High | Milton High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.4Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.