Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Somerville
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 affordable homes ($807k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Somerville has the most renters (65.8% rent).
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 | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
24,283 |
81,036Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest 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% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
69.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$132,572±$6kLowest 28% 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±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$911,300±$26k 62% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,517±$64Highest 43% above MA |
| Somerville and Hingham 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 |
$6,186Lowest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
9.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Somerville |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.