Compare towns
Hingham vs Edgartown 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 highest household income ($178k).
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
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 | Edgartown | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
5,278Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Edgartown and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown 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% |
56.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Edgartown 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 72% above MA |
$125,236±$33kLowest 20% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| 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±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Edgartown and Hingham 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 |
$1,796±$470Lowest 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 |
$5,641Lowest 6% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
87%Highest 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 |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #242 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Edgartown | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.