Compare towns
Acton vs Williston vs Andover vs Hingham
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%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Williston | Andover | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
10,144Lowest |
36,652Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Williston 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Acton 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #68 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.