Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Methuen vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Andover has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Acton | Andover | Methuen | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
36,652 |
53,475Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| Hingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Hingham 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
13.1 |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.