Compare towns

Acton vs Hingham vs Newfields vs Concord

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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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.

MeasureActonHinghamNewfieldsConcord
People
Population
24,155
24,283Highest
2,023Lowest
18,223
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±0.8
14% above U.S.
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
47.6±2
22% above U.S.
Hingham and Concord 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%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.6%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Concord 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
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham and Concord 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%
68.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
79.4%
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%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Concord 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±$15k
121% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$195,350±$22k
142% above U.S.
Newfields and Concord 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±$47k
241% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kLowest
94% above U.S.
$1,210,000±$72kHighest
264% above U.S.
Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
$2,465±$603
74% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Lowest
33% above U.S.
$2,631±$166Highest
86% above U.S.
Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% 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%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.2%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Concord 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
31% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
35.9%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.1%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Concord and Acton 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 — #10 of 282 in MA
School district Acton-Boxborough Hingham Newfields School District Concord · Concord-Carlisle
High school in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High Hingham High None in town Concord Carlisle High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
12.9
—
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.