Compare towns
Williamstown vs Acton vs Clarksburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Clarksburg has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williamstown | Acton | Clarksburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,150 |
24,155Highest |
1,667Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
49.8±7.1Highest 25% above MA |
| Clarksburg and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.5%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,650±$25k about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$77,143±$11kLowest 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,100±$39k 22% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$239,900±$18kLowest 57% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,584±$292 10% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,125±$190Lowest 36% below MA |
| Acton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,290 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,993Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.2%±56.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Clarksburg and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Williamstown 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 | #45 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mount Greylock | Acton-Boxborough | Clarksburg |
| High school in town | Mt Greylock Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.