Compare towns
Acton vs Stratham vs Hingham vs Boxborough
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%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Stratham | Hingham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
7,754 |
24,283Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35kLowest 79% 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. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hingham 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. |
$9,781Lowest 214% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hingham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.