Compare towns
Acton vs Ware vs Hingham vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Ware | Hingham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
10,048 |
24,283Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
| Hingham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
| Hingham and Carlisle 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,313±$855 25% below MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% 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% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Ware | Hingham | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.9 |
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| 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.