Town · Massachusetts
Acton, Massachusetts
Acton, town, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Acton had 24,786 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 24,021 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 24,155 (±34). GEOID 2501700380.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
24,786
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 24,021 · ACS 2020-2024: 24,155 ±34
Median household income
$158,230
±$13,899 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$807,300
±$20,323 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,986
±$155 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Acton and what county is it in?
Acton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 19.9 square miles of land, 1,209 residents per square mile in 2020.
Acton is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Acton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 24,786 people lived in Acton on July 1, 2025, up 3.2% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 24,021 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 24,155 (±34).
| Measure | Acton | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 24,155±34 | 1,638,365 | +528 |
| Households | 9,409±332 | 634,215 | +614 |
| Average household size | 2.55±0.09 | 2.49 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 9,575±328 | 664,267 | +621 |
Acton's population since 2000
From 20,331 in 2000 to 24,786 in 2025: up 21.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Acton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Acton?
The median resident of Acton is 44.5 years old; 23.2% are under 18 and 17.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.9%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 25.5%. 28.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Acton | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.2%±1.8 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.6%±1.4 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 48.1%±2.5 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.1%±1.4 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 58.9%±3.5 pts | 65.1% | −7.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.7%±3.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 25.5%±2.6 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.2%±1.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.7%±1.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 28.8%±2.5 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 34.1%±3.9 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.4%±1.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 9.1%±1.4 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.7%±0.9 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.0%±0.9 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 79.5%±2.6 pts | 59.5% | +4.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 47.6%±3.2 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.9%±4.1 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4%±1.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Acton earn?
Half of Acton's 9,409 households earn less than $158,230 a year (±$13,899), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 the median was $174,346 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $16,116 after inflation. 3.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Acton | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $158,230±$13,899 | $130,847 | −$16,116 |
| Mean household income | $208,786±$11,473 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $81,425±$4,831 | $69,556 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.4%±1.0 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.9%±1.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.9%±1.7 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.3%±1.3 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.2%±1.5 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Acton?
Owners occupy 74.9% of Acton's occupied homes and renters 25.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $807,300 by its owner (±$20,323). The median renter pays $1,986 a month including utilities, and 44.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Acton | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $807,300±$20,323 | $727,800 | +$91,775 |
| Median gross rent | $1,986±$155 | $2,201 | +$201 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.0%±9.6 pts | 37.6% | +13.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,812±$156 | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.9%±3.3 pts | 61.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.1%±3.3 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 9,575±328 | 664,267 | +621 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3%±1.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.7%±1.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 63.3%±3.0 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.5%±1.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.8%±1.9 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.1%±1.1 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Acton building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Acton in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Acton work and get to work?
52.7% of Acton's workers drive alone and 35.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.7%.
| Measure | Acton | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.7%±2.1 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7%±1.9 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 52.7%±4.3 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.2%±1.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.3%±1.1 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.0%±0.9 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 35.9%±4.3 pts | 24.7% | +27.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.6 min±2.2 | 29.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Acton?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Acton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $107,150 (Tract 3631.06) to $232,000 (Tract 3632.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3631.04Middlesex County | 6,422 | $155,150 |
| Tract 3631.05Middlesex County | 4,210 | $125,833 |
| Tract 3632.02Middlesex County | 3,811 | $200,625 |
| Tract 3632.01Middlesex County | 3,448 | $232,000 |
| Tract 3631.03Middlesex County | 3,138 | $139,250 |
| Tract 3631.06Middlesex County | 3,126 | $107,150 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Acton) · Census block assignment files
How does Acton compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Acton is the 459th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 21st-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Acton ranks 69th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 21st | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 69th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 153rd | 461 |
| Median household income | 69th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 62nd | 460 |
| Median home value | 77th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 91st | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 295th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17th | 459 |
| Median age | 229th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 291st | 460 |
| Work from home | 16th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 80th | 459 |
Acton's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Acton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Acton?
8 of the 57 figures for Acton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Acton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.