Compare towns
Acton vs Newton 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).
Newton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Newton | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
89,044Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Newton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Newton 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest 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% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Newton | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Newton North High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.