Compare towns
Hingham vs North Hampton vs Rye 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 highest household income ($178k).
North Hampton has the most affordable homes ($670k median).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | North Hampton | Rye | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Hingham 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. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Acton 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. |
$670,400±$61kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above 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. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$7,519Lowest 141% 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% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Acton 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | North Hampton School District | Rye School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.