Compare towns
Harwich vs Acton vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harwich has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k 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 | Harwich | Acton | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,598 |
24,155Highest |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
| Harwich and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,017±$738 14% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
| Hull and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Harwich and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 14% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #157 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Acton-Boxborough | Hull |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
13.5Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.