Compare towns
Carlisle vs Needham vs Ogunquit 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
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Needham | Ogunquit | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,239 |
32,459Highest |
1,379Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kLowest 143% above U.S. |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Carlisle 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Needham | — | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.