Compare towns
Acton vs Plainfield vs Andover 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 people working from home (35.9%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Andover | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
1,314Lowest |
36,652Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Andover 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. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Andover 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% 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% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hingham 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.