Compare towns
Carlisle vs Ogunquit vs Acton vs Dover
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 most kids (26.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Carlisle | Ogunquit | Acton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,239 |
1,379Lowest |
24,155Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kLowest 143% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Dover and Acton 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% 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 | 77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | — | Acton-Boxborough | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.