Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Woonsocket 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).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.
| Measure | Hingham | Marblehead | Woonsocket | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
20,413Lowest |
43,521Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Woonsocket 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%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% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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 121% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| 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 241% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below 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. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Woonsocket High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
15.2Highest |
13.5 |
| 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.