Compare towns
Sandwich vs Acton vs Sandwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandwich has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Sandwich has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | Sandwich | Acton | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,522 |
24,155Highest |
2,890Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±1.8 30% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
59.1±3.9Highest 48% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,486±$12k 18% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$117,321±$22kLowest 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $601,400±$26k 7% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$584,300±$43kLowest 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,751±$121Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,789±$145 about the MA average |
| Acton and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 8% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,393Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±13.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.1%±20.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±9.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Sandwich 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 | #77 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #77 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sandwich | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Sandwich Middle High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
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.