Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Plainville
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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
24,283Highest |
17,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest 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% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Acton 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 96% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 143% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% 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% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | Plainville 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.