Compare towns
Hingham vs Brookline vs Marblehead 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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | 24,283Highest |
5,736Lowest |
20,413 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
| 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±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% 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% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Brookline School District | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.