Compare towns
Acton vs Woonsocket 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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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 | Woonsocket | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
43,521Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Acton 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Hingham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Woonsocket High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
15.2Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.