Compare towns
Weston vs Acton vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weston has the highest household income ($250k).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k median).
Lincoln has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Weston | Acton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,579 |
24,155Highest |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.3±4.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Weston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Weston and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Weston and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$175,117±$44k 68% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,208,200±$132k 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,085±$809 18% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
| Lincoln and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±18.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lincoln 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Weston | Acton-Boxborough | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Weston High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
13.5Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.