Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Hooksett vs Marblehead
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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Hingham | Hooksett | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
24,283Highest |
15,057Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Marblehead 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| Marblehead 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 143% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Hooksett School District | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | None in town | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.