Compare towns
Acton vs Belmont vs Hingham vs Ogunquit
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 affordable homes ($807k median).
Belmont has the most renters (35.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Belmont | Hingham | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
27,175Highest |
24,283 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belmont and Hingham 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% |
19.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belmont and Acton 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 96% above U.S. |
$183,137±$14kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Belmont and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 143% above U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 248% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
| Belmont and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
— |
| Belmont and Hingham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Acton 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% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Acton 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 | #3 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Belmont | Hingham | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Belmont High | Hingham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
15.8Highest |
12.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.