Compare towns
Boylston vs Acton vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Boylston | Acton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
24,155Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Acton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Boylston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Acton-Boxborough | Hadley |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.