Compare towns
Hingham vs Cornwall vs Cohasset 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
Cornwall has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k 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 | Cornwall | Cohasset | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
1,208Lowest |
8,427 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.9±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Cohasset 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% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Cohasset 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. |
$114,583±$32kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$199,306±$53kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Cohasset 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 241% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 296% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Cohasset 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 74% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,755±$399Highest 95% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Cohasset 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. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Hingham 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±5.3 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 | — | #41 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Cohasset | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Cohasset High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 9.0Lowest |
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.