Compare towns
Acton vs Berlin 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%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k 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 | Berlin | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
3,378Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
| Berlin and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| Hingham and Acton 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 |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,420±$933 37% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Berlin 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 |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
34 minLowest 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Lowest 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Berlin-Boylston | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.