Compare towns
Acton vs Gray vs Hingham vs Carlisle
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Gray | Hingham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
8,429 |
24,283Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Carlisle 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% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Carlisle 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. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% 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%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Hingham 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% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #14 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Hingham | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.5Lowest |
12.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.