Compare towns
Hingham vs Reading vs Dover 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).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Reading | Dover | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
25,612Highest |
5,930Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 72% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Dover and Hingham 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Dover 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Reading | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Reading Memorial High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
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.