Compare towns
Concord vs Middleton vs Hingham vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the highest household income ($195k).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Concord | Middleton | Hingham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
9,816Lowest |
24,283Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$742,700±$48kLowest 32% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham 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 |
$8,785Lowest 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Acton 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Middleton | Hingham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | None in town | Hingham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.