Compare towns
Hingham vs Bedford 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).
Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k 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 | Hingham | Bedford | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
14,727Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest 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% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Acton 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 |
$172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Hingham and Bedford 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 |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Bedford 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 | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest 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% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Lowest 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Bedford | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Bedford High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.