Compare towns
Boxborough vs Milton 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 most affordable homes ($707k median).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Milton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
28,587Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Acton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest 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% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton 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 |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% 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 |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Milton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.