Compare towns
Acton vs Dracut vs Everett 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 people working from home (35.9%).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Dracut | Everett | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
32,574 |
50,045Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dracut 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 52% above MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| 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 44% above MA |
$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Everett 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 67% above MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dracut | Everett | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dracut Senior High | Everett High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.