Compare towns
Acton vs Plaistow vs Hingham vs Needham
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%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Plaistow | Hingham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
7,861Lowest |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Needham 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. |
$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Needham 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. |
$7,194Lowest 131% 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%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Timberlane Regional School District | Hingham | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Timberlane Regional High School | Hingham High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.9 |
11.9 |
| 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.