Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Lancaster
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
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 | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
24,283Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Hingham and Acton 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
| Hingham and Lancaster 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.