Compare towns

Hingham vs Hampton vs Acton vs Cohasset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k 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.

MeasureHinghamHamptonActonCohasset
People
Population
24,283Highest
16,426
24,155
8,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%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±0.8
14% above U.S.
43.9±4.4Lowest
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±4.1Highest
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%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±2.8
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%
76.7%
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%
3.8%±1.7
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.
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% above U.S.
$158,230±$14k
96% above U.S.
$199,306±$53kHighest
147% 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.
$550,200±$39kLowest
65% above U.S.
$807,300±$20k
143% above U.S.
$1,318,900±$165kHighest
296% 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.
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
$2,755±$399Highest
95% 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.
$6,813Lowest
118% 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%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±15.5
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
83%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
37% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 min
31% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% 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%
25.7%±5.3
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 #31 of 120 in NH #13 of 282 in MA #41 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Acton-Boxborough Cohasset
High school in town Hingham High Winnacunnet High School Acton-Boxborough Regional High Cohasset High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
10.1
13.5Highest
9.0Lowest
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.