Compare towns
Hingham vs Bow vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
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 | Bow | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
8,335Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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 121% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Bow 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 241% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Bow School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Bow High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.