Compare towns
Somerset vs Acton vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Somerset | Acton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298 |
24,155Highest |
13,435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Somerset and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,977 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Acton-Boxborough | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.