Compare towns

Hingham vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

MeasureHinghamThompsonHullActon
People
Population
24,283Highest
9,337Lowest
10,138
24,155
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4
24% above U.S.
54.1±2.2
39% above U.S.
56.1±1.8Highest
44% above U.S.
44.5±0.8Lowest
14% above U.S.
Hull and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
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%
24.4%±4.3
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%
21.9%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%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Hull 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
121% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$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.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% 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.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% 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.
$3,822Lowest
23% 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%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Thompson 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%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 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.
32 minLowest
20% above 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%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
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 #130 of 149 in CT #66 of 282 in MA #13 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Thompson School District Hull Acton-Boxborough
High school in town Hingham High Tourtellotte Memorial High School Hull High Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
7.9Lowest
8.8
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.