Compare towns
Gill vs Acton vs Turners Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has the most homeowners (82.3%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Turners Falls has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Gill | Acton | Turners Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740Lowest |
24,155Highest |
4,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.9±4.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Turners Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Turners Falls and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$54,772±$5kLowest 47% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$246,700±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,116±$140Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,650Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Turners Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 29% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
18 minLowest 37% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| 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.