Compare towns
Hingham vs Derry vs Acton vs Hull
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).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Derry | Acton | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
34,116Highest |
24,155 |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hull 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$115,485±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Acton 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. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Hull 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. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Hull 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Pinkerton Academy | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.9Highest |
13.5 |
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| 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.