Compare towns
Acton vs Hingham vs Wenham vs Winchester
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
24,283Highest |
4,929Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester 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% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Winchester and Wenham 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±$47k 102% above MA |
$885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Winchester and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
— | $2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Hingham and Winchester 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% |
43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Hamilton-Wenham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High | None in town | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.9Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.