Compare towns
Hingham vs Needham vs Boxborough 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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Boxborough has the most affordable homes ($707k 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 | Needham | Boxborough | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
32,459Highest |
5,496Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
80.6% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Needham | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Needham High | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.