Compare towns
Concord vs Nashua 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
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
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 | Nashua | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Lowest |
91,294Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Nashua 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 142% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,737±$41Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,799Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Nashua School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Nashua High School South | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.