Compare towns

Acton vs Hingham vs Litchfield

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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k 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.

MeasureActonHinghamLitchfield
People
Population
24,155
24,283Highest
8,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±0.8
14% above U.S.
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
43.1±1.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.2%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±3.7Lowest
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%
14.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,230±$14kLowest
96% above U.S.
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$162,036±$11k
101% above U.S.
Hingham and Litchfield 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.
$485,000±$18kLowest
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,986±$155Lowest
41% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$2,138±$406
51% above U.S.
Hingham and Litchfield 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.
$8,273Lowest
165% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12
U.S.: 51.1%
81.5%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Litchfield 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%
4.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
31% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #14 of 282 in MA #53 of 120 in NH
School district Acton-Boxborough Hingham Litchfield School District
High school in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High Hingham High Campbell High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
12.9
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.