Compare towns
Hingham vs Upton vs Needham 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).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Upton | Needham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
8,189Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Hingham and Needham 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 |
$8,376Lowest 40% 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% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Needham 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.2Lowest |
11.9 |
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.