Compare towns
Acton vs Jericho vs Williston vs Hingham
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%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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 | Jericho | Williston | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,114Lowest |
10,144 |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest 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% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% 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. |
$493,100±$38k 48% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,731±$111Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above 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. |
$7,318 135% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
13.0 |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.