Compare towns
Edgartown vs Acton vs Rowley
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%).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k 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.
| Measure | Edgartown | Acton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,278Lowest |
24,155Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
| Edgartown and Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown and Rowley 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% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Rowley 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±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Acton and Rowley 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±$20k 44% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,796±$470 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Acton and Edgartown 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 60% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.6%±15.2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edgartown | Acton-Boxborough | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.