Compare towns

Hull vs Maynard vs Acton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).

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.

MeasureHullMaynardActon
People
Population
10,138Lowest
10,712
24,155Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
56.1±1.8Highest
40% above MA
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
44.5±0.8Lowest
11% above MA
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Acton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.2%
MA: 47.3%
79.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Acton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$115,485±$14kLowest
11% above MA
$124,067±$16k
19% above MA
$158,230±$14kHighest
52% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,000±$38k
15% above MA
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$807,300±$20kHighest
44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,081±$187Highest
18% above MA
$1,800±$148Lowest
about the MA average
$1,986±$155
13% above MA
Hull and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,089Lowest
about the MA average
$8,266
38% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±14Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
47.7%±11.3
MA: 51.8%
Hull and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
3.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75%
MA: 62.5%
74.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
14% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
19.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
35.9%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #66 of 282 in MA #166 of 282 in MA #13 of 282 in MA
School district Hull Maynard Acton-Boxborough
High school in town Hull High Maynard High Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
8.8Lowest
9.7
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.