Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Natick 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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Hingham | Natick | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
24,283 |
36,873Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Hingham 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% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Hingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914Lowest 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Acton 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% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Natick | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | Natick High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
12.6Lowest |
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.