Compare towns
Hingham vs Walpole vs Canton 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).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Walpole | Canton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
26,388Highest |
24,748 |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Hingham and Walpole 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 |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Hingham and Canton 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 |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Walpole High | Canton High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.3Lowest |
13.1 |
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.