Compare towns
Unity vs Acton vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Goshen has the shortest commute (23 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 | Unity | Acton | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
24,155Highest |
1,042Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±16.1 39% above U.S. |
| Unity and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
26.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Goshen and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$70,417±$26kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$255,600±$53kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,938±$416 37% above U.S. |
| Acton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 73% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,760Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.2%±74.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Unity 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.