Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Hingham vs Belmont
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).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Belmont has the most renters (35.3% rent).
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 | Needham | Hingham | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,283 |
27,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Belmont 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belmont and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$183,137±$14k 76% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,159,000±$33k 106% above MA |
| Needham and Belmont 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 |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Belmont 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Hingham | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | Hingham High | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.9Lowest |
12.9 |
15.8Highest |
| 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.