Compare towns
Hingham vs Putney vs Hull 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).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Putney | Hull | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
2,622Lowest |
10,138 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hull 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,485±$14k 43% 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Hull 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,089 95% 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% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #66 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.