Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Winchester 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).
Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Milton | Winchester | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
28,587Highest |
23,406Lowest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% 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 |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% 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 |
$9,677Lowest 61% above 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% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest 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% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Milton | Winchester | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milton High | Winchester High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.