Compare towns
Acton vs Chester vs Hingham vs Concord
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 youngest population (median age 44.5).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Concord has the highest household income ($195k).
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 | Chester | Hingham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
2,992Lowest |
24,283Highest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Concord 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Chester 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. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Concord 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 143% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
| Concord 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. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Concord 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. |
$4,262Lowest 37% 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% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Concord 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Concord 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #14 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hingham | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Green Mountain Union High School | Hingham High | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
12.9 |
11.4 |
| 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.