Compare towns
Acton vs Bedford vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Bedford | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
23,746Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Bedford 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,803Lowest 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Bedford School District | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bedford High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
13.5Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.