Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Lowell vs Boxborough
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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Lowell | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
24,283 |
118,368Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Boxborough 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 |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% 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 |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Lowell | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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| 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.