Compare towns
Hingham vs Eastham 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
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Eastham | Lexington | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
5,811Lowest |
34,295Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±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% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
54.4%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% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Lexington 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 40% above MA |
$1,747±$101Lowest about the MA average |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Lexington 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 67% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% 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%±12 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 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 |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Eastham · Nauset | Lexington | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Nauset Regional High | Lexington High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
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.