Compare towns
Acton vs Wells vs Hingham vs Belmont
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).
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 | Wells | Hingham | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
1,148Lowest |
24,283 |
27,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%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% |
24.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belmont and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9%Highest 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% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belmont 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. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$183,137±$14kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| 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 143% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 248% above U.S. |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
| 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 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% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest 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. |
1938Lowest 42 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 11% 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% |
31.5%±3.2 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 | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Hingham | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Hingham High | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 12.9Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| 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.