Compare towns
Acton vs Plainfield vs Hingham vs Concord
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 youngest population (median age 44.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Concord has the highest household income ($195k).
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 | Plainfield | Hingham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
616Lowest |
24,283Highest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Hingham 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Plainfield 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 52% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
| Concord 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±$20k 44% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Concord 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 |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below 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% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Concord 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Acton 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 | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Hingham | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Hingham High | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.9 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.