Compare towns
Hingham vs Northbridge vs Upton 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).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Northbridge | Upton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Upton 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Northbridge 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 72% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| 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 102% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
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.