The Town FilesCarlisle, Massachusetts
Town in Middlesex County · population 5,237 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,103,900
- Household income
- $250,001
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 45.3
Carlisle is a town of 5,237 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $1,103,900, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 100% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 99% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 86% of Massachusetts towns.
How Carlisle ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carlisle is worth $1,103,900, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $250,001, which is more affordable than 57% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,313 a month. 93.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlisle | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,103,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,313 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 93.6% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carlisle
| People | Carlisle | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 87.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.9% | — |
| Work from home | 38.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 35.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Carlisle
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 48.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.0 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 29, 1974 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on June 22, 1988.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Carlisle itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Carlisle
1 public school with 608 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle School | PK-8 | 608 | 10.1 |
Towns near Carlisle
- Chelmsford, MA4.2 mi · 36,392 people · home $593,700
- Bedford, MA4.8 mi · 14,383 people · home $898,500
- Concord, MA5.1 mi · 18,491 people · home $1,210,000
- Westford, MA5.2 mi · 24,643 people · home $748,500
- Billerica, MA5.3 mi · 42,119 people · home $612,000
- Acton, MA5.4 mi · 24,021 people · home $807,300
- Littleton Common, MA5.6 mi · 3,065 people · home $558,200
- West Concord, MA6.2 mi · 6,320 people · home $904,200
Carlisle questions
Is Carlisle, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlisle scores better for retirees than 86% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 65%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Carlisle?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlisle is valued at $1,103,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $250,001, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,313 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlisle?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 59.0 inches of snow.
Does Carlisle get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 29, 1974. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)