Compare towns
Stoddard vs Acton vs Springfield
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 people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
24,155Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% 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% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% 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% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.