Compare towns
Hingham vs Ayer vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Hingham | Ayer | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
8,645Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Ayer Shirley School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.