Compare towns
Acton vs Dracut 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 people working from home (35.9%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Dracut | Hingham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,574Highest |
24,283 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 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. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% 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. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above 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. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 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. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dracut | Hingham | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dracut Senior High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9Lowest |
12.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.