Compare towns
Concord vs Lee vs Marblehead vs Acton
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).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Concord | Lee | Marblehead | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
5,719Lowest |
20,413 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Lee and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Concord and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Lee | — | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Lee Middle/High School | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.2Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.