Compare towns
Acton vs Springfield vs Needham vs Hingham
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Springfield | Needham | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
154,749Highest |
32,459 |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% 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±$155 13% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% 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%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Springfield | Needham | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Springfield Central High | Needham High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.