Compare towns
Hingham vs Williamstown vs Marblehead 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).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williamstown | Marblehead | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
9,150Lowest |
20,413 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Williamstown 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% |
70.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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 |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$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 |
$5,290Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #45 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Mount Greylock | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Mt Greylock Regional High | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
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.