Compare towns
Acton vs Reading vs Hingham vs Needham
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Reading | Hingham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
25,612 |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| 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±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above 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% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Reading | Hingham | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Hingham High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1 |
12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.