Compare towns
Hingham vs Lenox vs Acton vs Marblehead
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 most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
Acton has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Lenox | Acton | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
5,079Lowest |
24,155 |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead 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±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Lenox | Acton-Boxborough | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Lenox Memorial High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
7.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.