Compare towns
Hingham vs Brookline vs Marblehead 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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Brookline | Marblehead | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
63,266Highest |
20,413Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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% |
15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Brookline and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Brookline 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Brookline | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Brookline High | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
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.