Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Townsend
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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
24,283Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 52% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.