Compare towns
Boxborough vs Woonsocket vs Harvard vs Acton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Woonsocket | Harvard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
43,521Highest |
6,927 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Harvard 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Woonsocket 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 79% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Boxborough 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #12 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Harvard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | The Bromfield High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.0Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.