Compare towns
Stoddard vs Acton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Stoddard | Acton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
24,155Highest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Salisbury 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 | Stoddard School District | Acton-Boxborough | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.