Compare towns
Boxborough vs Exeter vs Acton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Exeter | Acton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
16,151 |
24,155Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Stow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.