Compare towns
Acton vs Lee vs Hingham 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 people working from home (35.9%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Lee | Hingham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,719Lowest |
24,283Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Lee 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 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Hingham 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% 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±$155 13% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Lee | Hingham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | Hingham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
9.2Lowest |
12.9 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.