Compare towns

Concord vs Truro 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).
Truro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.5%).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k median).

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.

MeasureConcordTruroActon
People
Population
18,223
1,708Lowest
24,155Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+22.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.6±2
19% above MA
64.1±5.8Highest
60% above MA
44.5±0.8Lowest
11% above MA
Kids under 18
23.6%±2.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
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%
45.6%±10.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
79.4%
MA: 47.3%
57.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
79.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±5.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.2
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±$22kHighest
88% above MA
$118,984±$72kLowest
14% above MA
$158,230±$14k
52% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,210,000±$72kHighest
115% above MA
$888,200±$117k
58% above MA
$807,300±$20kLowest
44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,631±$166Highest
49% above MA
—
$1,986±$155Lowest
13% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$3,997Lowest
33% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.2%±10.5
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.7%±11.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Truro 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%
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.7%
MA: 62.5%
84.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
11% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
36.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
35.2%±22.9Lowest
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 — #13 of 282 in MA
School district Concord · Concord-Carlisle Truro Acton-Boxborough
High school in town Concord Carlisle High None in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
—
13.5Highest
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.