Compare towns
Concord vs Acton vs Sudbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Sudbury has the highest household income ($236k).
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 | Concord | Acton | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Lowest |
24,155Highest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$236,250±$17kHighest 127% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,445±$895Lowest 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Acton-Boxborough | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.