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About Acton, MA

About Acton, MA

Historic suburb with great schools and amenities

In a region full of charming New England towns and Revolutionary War history, it’s the school system and outdoor recreation in Acton that sets it apart. This historic suburb, which sent well-armed men to nearby Concord in one of the most famous battles of the Revolutionary War, is an active community with great schools, plenty of places to go shopping, tasty restaurants and appealing homes befitting an upscale Massachusetts suburb. “Acton is very safe, it’s very quiet, and it has a train station which is helpful for a commute,” says Real Estate Agent Svetlana Sheinina with eXp Realty, who has over 30 years of experience. “The area is very family oriented too.”

Charming and spacious New England homes

Homes in Acton reflect the town’s rustic upscale New England charm, including cute midcentury Cape Cods that cost anywhere between $530,000 and $700,000 for 2,000 square feet. There are also 3,000-square-foot contemporary Colonials with four bedrooms and four baths that cost $800,000 to $1.5 million. These properties sometimes come with farmhouse-inspired architecture like large front porches and picture windows. “There are big houses on big lots around half an acre. It’s quite spacious,” Sheinina says. Those who want something smaller can find barn-like townhouses and attractive one-story ranch homes for $300,000 to $630,000.

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Many single family homes in Acton feature large garages and plenty of room for the kids to play.
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Ranch homes in Acton commonly feature large lawns and well manicured grounds.
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Many homes in Acton feature detached garages.
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A-rated Acton public schools

Families living in the area can trust the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District for their children’s education. Luther Conant Elementary School is one of six in the district and maintains an A grade on Niche. In 2022, the school received a National Blue Ribbon School award for its academic excellence. Ramond J Grey High School also has an A Niche grade and maintains above-average test scores. From there, students can attend Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. Ranked No.19 in Best Public High Schools in Massachusetts by Niche, the school has an A-plus grade, a well-known STEM program and over 70 student clubs and activities.

Hiking and outdoor recreation outside of Boston

When residents want a breath of fresh air, there are plenty of outdoor activities in Acton. Nathaniel Alan Recreation Area (NARA) Park is situated on a lake and features a beach with seasonal swimming. Walk or bike the nearby trails, have fun on the playground or make a move on the volleyball court. The amphitheater on the grounds hosts a summer concert series every year, featuring local and well-known artists. There are also tons of places to hike in town, including the Acton Arboretum, where visitors can explore the butterfly and pollinator garden. Also at the Arboretum is the China Trail Garden, which was designed to merge nature with traditional Chinese aesthetics. Additionally, Acton has several nature preserves in the neighborhood that provide a network of hiking trails, including The Great Hill Recreation Area and Grassy Pond Conservation Land. When it comes to indoor activities, the community has a popular library with tons of events. Bring babies and toddlers to story time, join a book discussion group or sit in on a class for streaming music or podcasts.

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The botanical garden at Acton Arboretum has plenty of benches and accessible paths to navigate.
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A man sits on a bench in Nara Park, enjoying the sun in Acton.
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Visit the beautiful Acton Arboretum to get your nature fix in.
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Restaurants and shops on Great Road

Restaurant-wise, Acton has plenty to offer. Benjarong Restaurant is a Thai eatery serving favorites like krapow, panang curry and tamarind duck. Beer lovers will like True West Brewery, a scratch kitchen restaurant and beer maker serving New England clam chowder and fried chicken sandwiches. For a fine-dining experience, residents can head to Bella’s Great Road for Southern Italian classics. Choose from several different linguine and gemelli pasta dishes served with Italian sausages, hot clams or grilled chicken. Those craving something sweet can stop by West Side Creamery, where homemade flavors include banana chocolate chunk and coffeehouse. When shopping for essentials, the town offers a plethora of grocery options, including Trader Joe’s, the locally based Roche Bros., Acton Asian Market and Donelan’s Fresh Market. According to Sheinina, there’s no real downtown area, but neighbors in West Acton can walk to salons, pizzerias and a pharmacy near Central Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Brookside Shops shopping mall has three clothing stores – Chico’s, talbots and LOFT – and a Staples for your daily errand runs.

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True West Brewing in Acton has rotating taps with seasonal brews to try.
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Many great healthy items to choose from at Trader Joes in Acton.
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The Silver Unicorn bookstore in Acton, Massachusetts.
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Traveling through Acton

Transportation: Traveling through Acton There are several ways to travel in and around Acton. Many people use their own vehicles to get around. The town is located along State Route 2, is a short drive away from Interstate 495 and is only 32 miles away from downtown Boston. The South Acton stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail can take passengers west to Fitchburg or east to Boston’s North Station.

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The commuter rail has a local stop in downtown Acton.
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Acton is a tranquil suburb lying just 20 miles north of Boston.
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Laura Finaldi
Written By
Laura Finaldi
Bret Osswald
Photography Contributed By
Bret Osswald
Barry Ridgeway
Video By
Barry Ridgeway

Neighborhood Map

Acton by the Numbers

25,367
Population
$893K
Average Housing Value
21
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Acton, MA

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Carlisle School
#1 Carlisle School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Luther Conant Elementary School
#2 Luther Conant Elementary School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Paul P Gates Elementary School
#3 Paul P Gates Elementary School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Thoreau Elementary School
#4 Thoreau Elementary School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Alcott Elementary School
#5 Alcott Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Col John Robinson
#6 Col John Robinson
A-
Niche
John A. Crisafulli Elementary School
#7 John A. Crisafulli Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
C.T. Douglas Elementary School
#8 C.T. Douglas Elementary School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Shaker Lane Elementary School
#9 Shaker Lane Elementary School
B+
Niche

Best Public Middle Schools

Carlisle School
#1 Carlisle School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Blanchard Middle School
#2 Blanchard Middle School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Raymond J Grey Junior High School
#3 Raymond J Grey Junior High School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Littleton Middle School
#4 Littleton Middle School
B+
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Concord Middle School
#5 Concord Middle School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Hale Middle School
#6 Hale Middle School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Fowler School
#7 Fowler School
B-
Niche
6
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
#1 Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
A+
Niche
10
GreatSchools
Concord Carlisle High School
#2 Concord Carlisle High School
A+
Niche
10
GreatSchools
Westford Academy
#3 Westford Academy
A+
Niche
10
GreatSchools
Littleton High School
#4 Littleton High School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Nashoba Regional High School
#5 Nashoba Regional High School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Maynard High School
#6 Maynard High School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Beverlee Vidoli
(781) 537-0770
Broker/Owner RE/MAX Realty Experts formally founder and President of Vidoli & Associates, Inc. Realtors since 1999
Beverlee is a GRI, C.I.P.S candidate, a CBR, a SRES, a CRS and a member of the Burlington Business Round Table as well as President of the Rotary Club of Burlington
EMAR member since 1989-President in 1998
1999 Realtor of the year/MAR Realtor of the year
2000 and 2001 she served as Regional Vice President for MAR
Stonehill College graduate and taught in the Westford Public School System for 10 years
Burlington resident since 1980
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.