Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hull 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).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
10,138 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Acton 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 |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% 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 |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Hull 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 |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hull | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Hull High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
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.