Compare towns
Boxborough vs Everett vs Maynard 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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
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 | Everett | Maynard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
50,045Highest |
10,712 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$35k 39% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Everett and Acton 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Everett | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.