Compare towns
Carlisle vs Mendon vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($616k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Carlisle | Mendon | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239Lowest |
6,325 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$616,000±$37kLowest 10% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
| Acton and Mendon 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 |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Mendon-Upton | 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.