Compare towns

Hingham vs Hampton 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

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k 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.

MeasureHinghamHamptonActon
People
Population
24,283Highest
16,426Lowest
24,155
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4
24% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
44.5±0.8Lowest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5
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%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton 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%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Hampton 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.
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% above U.S.
$158,230±$14k
96% 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.
$550,200±$39kLowest
65% above U.S.
$807,300±$20k
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
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 221% above U.S.
$6,813Lowest
118% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Hampton 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%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 min
31% above U.S.
Work from home
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Lowest
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 #31 of 120 in NH #13 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Acton-Boxborough
High school in town Hingham High Winnacunnet High School Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
10.1Lowest
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.