Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Wareham 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 most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Acton has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Marblehead | Wareham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
20,413Lowest |
23,302 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Wareham and Marblehead 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Acton 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% 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 |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | Wareham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Wareham Senior High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.7 |
8.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.