Compare towns
Hingham vs Carlisle 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 expensive homes ($1134k median).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Marblehead has the shortest commute (33 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 | Carlisle | Marblehead | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
5,239Lowest |
20,413 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Hingham 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% |
21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
87.2%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% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Carlisle 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 72% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Hingham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$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 |
$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%±12 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Carlisle | 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 |
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.