Compare towns
Beverly vs Sutton vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Beverly | Sutton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
9,452Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
| Acton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Sutton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Sutton High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.6 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.