Compare towns
Boxborough vs Sutton vs Stow 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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
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 | Sutton | Stow | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
9,452 |
7,165 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest 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±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Sutton | Nashoba | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 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.