Compare towns
Chatham vs Acton vs West Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($943k median).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
West Chatham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Chatham | Acton | West Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,681 |
24,155Highest |
1,258Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
59.7±13.5 49% above MA |
| Chatham and West Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±8.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and West Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
42.1%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chatham and West Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
73.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$739,600±$135kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,772±$110 about the MA average |
| Acton and West Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,094 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,980Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Chatham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
22%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Chatham 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 | #130 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school 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.