Compare towns

Hingham vs Litchfield 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).
Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k 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.

MeasureHinghamLitchfieldActon
People
Population
24,283Highest
8,499Lowest
24,155
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
43.1±1.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.5±0.8
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±3.7Lowest
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%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%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%
4.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Litchfield 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.
$162,036±$11k
101% above U.S.
$158,230±$14kLowest
96% above U.S.
Hingham and Litchfield 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.
$485,000±$18kLowest
46% above U.S.
$807,300±$20k
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$2,138±$406
51% above U.S.
$1,986±$155Lowest
41% above U.S.
Hingham and Litchfield 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.
$8,273Lowest
165% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12
U.S.: 51.1%
81.5%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Litchfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
35 min
31% above U.S.
Work from home
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.1Lowest
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 #53 of 120 in NH #13 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Litchfield School District Acton-Boxborough
High school in town Hingham High Campbell High School Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
11.4Lowest
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.