Compare towns
Concord vs Sutton vs Acton vs Lincoln
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 highest household income ($195k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Lincoln has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Sutton | Acton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
9,452 |
24,155Highest |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.3±4.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lincoln 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lincoln and Concord 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$175,117±$44k 68% above MA |
| Concord and Lincoln 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,208,200±$132k 115% above MA |
| Concord and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166 49% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
| Lincoln and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lincoln 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±7.1 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Sutton | Acton-Boxborough | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Sutton High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.6 |
13.5Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.