Compare towns
Hingham vs Shirley 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).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
6,976Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Acton 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% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Ayer Shirley School District | 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 | 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.