Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hingham vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Boxborough | Hingham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
24,283Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Hingham and Boxborough 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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 | 3.8% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.