Compare towns
Middlesex vs Acton vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% 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 | Middlesex | Acton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
24,155Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Acton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,435Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Middlesex 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Acton-Boxborough | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.