Compare towns
Acton vs Everett vs Hingham vs Stow
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 shortest commute (35 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Stow has the most homeowners (85.4%).
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 | Everett | Hingham | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
50,045Highest |
24,283 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Acton 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow 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 44% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Stow 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Everett | Hingham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Everett High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
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| 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.