Compare towns
Acton vs Newfields vs Winchester 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 renters (25.1% rent).
Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Winchester has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Winchester | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
2,023Lowest |
23,406 |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Hingham 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Newfields 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. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| 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+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #11 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Newfields School District | Winchester | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Winchester High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 14.8Highest |
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.