Compare towns
Hingham vs Truro vs Wellfleet 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).
Truro has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Acton has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Truro | Wellfleet | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
1,708Lowest |
4,404 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+22.5% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Truro and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 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%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Truro and Wellfleet 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% |
57.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Truro 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 |
$118,984±$72k 14% above MA |
$117,938±$27kLowest 13% 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 |
$888,200±$117k 58% above MA |
$855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
— | $1,563±$597Lowest 11% 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 |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,862 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Truro 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 | — | — | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Truro | Wellfleet | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | 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 | 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.