Compare towns
Acton vs Lexington vs Hingham
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).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Lexington | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
34,295Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington 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% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
| Lexington 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 |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
| Lexington 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lexington 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Acton 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Lexington | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lexington High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.