Compare towns
North Eastham vs Acton vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
Acton has the highest household income ($158k).
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
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 | North Eastham | Acton | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,085 |
24,155Highest |
1,893Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.9±4.4Highest 57% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
| North Eastham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 47%±7.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and North Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,442±$5kLowest 26% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $689,300±$88k 23% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,688±$118 4% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,789Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74%±50.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
| North Eastham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
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| 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.