Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Acton vs Housatonic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Housatonic has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | Stockbridge | Acton | Housatonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,056 |
24,155Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
51.8±9.1 30% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.3%±10.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,250±$67kLowest 41% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
— |
| Acton and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,000±$99k 7% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$437,000±$47kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,491±$462 15% below MA |
| Acton and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,652Lowest 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,920 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±33.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
69.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
26%±12.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stockbridge and Acton 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 | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.