Compare towns
Lenox vs Acton vs Rockport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Rockport has the most renters (31.7% rent).
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 | Lenox | Acton | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
24,155Highest |
7,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
59.7±3.3 49% above MA |
| Lenox and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$96,250±$15kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$746,100±$47k 33% above MA |
| Acton and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,851±$219 5% above MA |
| Acton and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
71.1%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rockport and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #124 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Acton-Boxborough | Rockport |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Rockport Middle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
8.3 |
| 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.