Compare towns
Acton vs Unity 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%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 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 | Unity | Hingham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
1,375Lowest |
24,283Highest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%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. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Hingham 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% |
21.6%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% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 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. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below 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. |
$1,625±$804Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% 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. |
$5,394Lowest 73% 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%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Boxborough 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% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%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. |
1982 2 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. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Unity 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 | 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.