Compare towns
Boxborough vs Dover vs Acton vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Boxborough | Dover | Acton | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496 |
2,308Lowest |
24,155Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
— | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.