Carlisle vs Concord
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
Carlisle and Concord belong to the Concord-Carlisle district above the elementary and middle years, and each runs its own schools below that. The shared name hides a real difference in the early grades.
Concord is about 5 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak, and it has MBTA rail while Carlisle does not. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Carlisle works out roughly $9,500 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Carlisle if you want the lower price.
All Carlisle numbers →Choose Concord if the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Concord numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsCarlisle ahead on 2 of 9, 1 against
| Carlisle | Concord | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | top schoolsT1 | top schoolsT1 |
| MCAS achievement | 99th | 95th |
| Student growth | 58th | 52nd |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 96.8% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 3rd of 361 | 21st of 361 |
| State accountability | Meeting or exceeding targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $30,708 | $30,708 |
| Schools in the district | 1 | 4 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 16 | 27 |
What a home costsCarlisle ahead on 5 of 8
| Carlisle | Concord | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.5MT4 | $2.2MT4 |
| 3BR townhouse | $1.05M | $1.4M |
| 2BR condo | $775k | $1.03M |
| 3BR home | $1.13M | $1.18M |
| 5+ BR home | $1.93M | $2.41M |
| 3BR rent | $3,513/mo | $3,673/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $401k | $587k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.2% a year | 5.1% a year |
What you pay the townCarlisle ahead on 1 of 4
| Carlisle | Concord | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $12.82T3 | $13.05T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$19,200 | ≈$28,700 |
| Town spending per resident | $6,878 | $7,437 |
| Share of budget on schools | 61% | 54% |
Getting to workConcord ahead on 3 of 3
| Carlisle | Concord | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 52 minT3 | 47 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~49 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 20 mi | 17 mi |
Before kindergartenConcord ahead on 3 of 4
| Carlisle | Concord | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 3 | 13 |
| Child care places | 134 | 758 |
| Centers vs family programs | 3 centers | 12 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 21 | 88 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Carlisle | Concord | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,237 | 18,491 |
| Energy | 2/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 2/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Culture | 5/10 | 10/10 |
| Gathering places | 5/10 | 9/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
