Compare towns
Hingham vs Williamsburg vs Acton vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Williamsburg | Acton | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
2,694Lowest |
24,155 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hingham 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% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington 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% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Williamsburg 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% |
60.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Lexington and Hingham 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 |
$5,761Lowest 4% below 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%±12 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Acton 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 | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Williamsburg | Acton-Boxborough | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.