Compare towns
Boxborough vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Lancaster | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
8,606 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | 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.