Compare towns
Acton vs Edgartown 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 affordable homes ($807k median).
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
Hingham has the highest household income ($178k).
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 | Edgartown | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,278Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
| Edgartown 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 MA: 19.4% |
10%±3.6Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Edgartown 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 |
$125,236±$33kLowest 20% above 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±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
| Edgartown 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 13% above MA |
$1,796±$470Lowest about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$5,641Lowest 6% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Acton 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2Lowest 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 | #242 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Edgartown | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.