Compare towns
Acton vs Hanover vs Hingham vs Andover
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Hanover | Hingham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
14,845Lowest |
24,283 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Andover 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% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Hanover 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 |
$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Hingham and Andover 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 |
$9,342Lowest 56% above 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%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Hingham High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.9 |
12.8 |
| 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.