Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Wellesley vs Boxborough
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Wellesley has the highest household income ($250k).
Boxborough has the most affordable homes ($707k 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 | Wellesley | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
24,283 |
30,347Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley 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% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
80.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
| Wellesley 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ 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% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Boxborough 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Wellesley | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | Wellesley Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
10.8Lowest |
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| 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.