Compare towns
Boxborough vs Dunstable vs Acton
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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Boxborough | Dunstable | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496 |
3,408Lowest |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dunstable 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
| 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1987 23 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Groton-Dunstable | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.