Compare towns
Acton vs Townsend vs Hingham vs Belmont
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Belmont has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Townsend | Hingham | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
9,100Lowest |
24,283 |
27,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belmont and Townsend 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 52% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA |
| Belmont and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
| Belmont 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 |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Belmont 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 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$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% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | North Middlesex | Hingham | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | North Middlesex Regional | Hingham High | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.1 |
12.9Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| 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.