Compare towns
Acton vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Salem | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
30,964Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Acton 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. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Acton 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. |
$6,992Lowest 124% 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% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Salem School District | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Salem High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.