Compare towns
Acton vs Brookline vs Hingham vs Winchester
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Brookline | Hingham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
531Lowest |
24,283Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Brookline 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% |
20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester 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% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Brookline 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Winchester 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. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Hingham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Hingham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 12.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.