Compare towns
Acton vs Litchfield 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%).
Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k median).
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 | Litchfield | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
8,499Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Litchfield 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 96% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11k 101% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Litchfield 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. |
$485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$2,138±$406 51% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Litchfield 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. |
$8,273Lowest 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield 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% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1Lowest 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Litchfield School District | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Campbell High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.