Compare towns
Acton vs Exeter vs Winchester vs Hingham
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Exeter | Winchester | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
16,151Lowest |
23,406 |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 96% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Winchester 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #11 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Winchester | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Exeter High School | Winchester High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.