Compare towns
Hingham vs Salem vs Acton vs Winchester
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Salem | Acton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
44,795Highest |
24,155 |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Winchester 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 |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Hingham and Winchester 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$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% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Salem | Acton-Boxborough | Winchester |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Salem High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
9.8Lowest |
13.5 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.