Compare towns
Acton vs Boxborough vs Hingham vs Killingly
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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Boxborough | Hingham | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,496Lowest |
24,283Highest |
17,867 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Killingly 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. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 143% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| 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+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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Hingham High | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.9 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.