Compare towns
Acton vs Concord vs Hingham vs Hooksett
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).
Concord has the highest household income ($195k).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Concord | Hingham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
18,223 |
24,283Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Concord 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% |
23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Concord 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% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% 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. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% 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. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.9 |
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| 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.