Compare towns
Acton vs Wells vs Hingham vs Andover
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%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Andover 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 | Wells | Hingham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
1,148Lowest |
24,283 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Wells and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover 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% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Andover 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. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Andover 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. |
$3,308Lowest 6% 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% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Hingham | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Hingham High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.