Compare towns
Acton vs Mount Tabor vs Hingham vs Boxborough
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%).
Mount Tabor has the most affordable homes ($421k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Mount Tabor | Hingham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
304Lowest |
24,283Highest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 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% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough 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. |
— | $178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35kLowest 79% 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. |
$420,500±$76kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,143±$367 52% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Mount Tabor 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. |
$5,233Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Hingham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 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.