Compare towns
Acton vs Bolton 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 renters (25.1% rent).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Bolton | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,737Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton 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% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Bolton 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 52% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Bolton 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±$20k 44% above MA |
$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Nashoba Regional | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.0Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.