Compare towns
Edgartown vs Acton vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Newbury has the highest household income ($175k).
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 | Edgartown | Acton | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,278Lowest |
24,155Highest |
6,777 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±8.6 30% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
55.1±4.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Newbury and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newbury and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,236±$33kLowest 20% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$174,868±$59kHighest 68% above MA |
| Newbury and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$840,600±$40k 50% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,796±$470Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,806±$1k about the MA average |
| Acton and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,641Lowest 6% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,661 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
53%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Newbury and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 60% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.6%±15.2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.5%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Edgartown 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 | #242 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #137 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edgartown | Acton-Boxborough | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Triton Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.