Compare towns
Hingham vs Chilmark vs Lexington vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Chilmark | Lexington | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
1,578Lowest |
34,295Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Lexington 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 |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Lexington and Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington 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 | — | #2 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Up-Island Regional | Lexington | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Lexington High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
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.