Compare towns
Millbury vs Acton vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Rockland has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Millbury | Acton | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
24,155Highest |
17,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,487 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rockland and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #202 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Acton-Boxborough | Rockland |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.