Compare towns
Concord vs Reading vs Marblehead 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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Marblehead has the oldest housing (typical home built 1944).
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 | Reading | Marblehead | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
699Lowest |
20,413 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| 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 264% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Concord 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | None in town | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.