Compare towns
Cohasset vs Acton vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Cohasset | Acton | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427Lowest |
24,155 |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
| Cohasset and Hingham 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±15.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #41 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Cohasset | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham |
| High school in town | Cohasset High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.