Compare towns

Maynard vs Hull vs Acton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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.

MeasureMaynardHullActon
People
Population
10,712
10,138Lowest
24,155Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
56.1±1.8Highest
40% above MA
44.5±0.8Lowest
11% above MA
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
11.4%±2.2Lowest
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+
18.2%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
26.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.2%
MA: 47.3%
50.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
79.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.2
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
$124,067±$16k
19% above MA
$115,485±$14kLowest
11% above MA
$158,230±$14kHighest
52% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$646,000±$38k
15% above MA
$807,300±$20kHighest
44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148Lowest
about the MA average
$2,081±$187Highest
18% above MA
$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
$8,266
38% above MA
$6,089Lowest
about the MA average
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±14Highest
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
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
3.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%
MA: 62.5%
79.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
9% above MA
33 min
14% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
19.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
35.9%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #166 of 282 in MA #66 of 282 in MA #13 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Hull Acton-Boxborough
High school in town Maynard High Hull High Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7
8.8Lowest
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.