Compare towns
Acton vs Wenham vs Hingham vs Boxborough
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%).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Boxborough has the most affordable homes ($707k median).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Hingham | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
4,929Lowest |
24,283Highest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Wenham 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 |
$885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
— | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham | 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 |
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.