Compare towns
Hingham vs Wolfeboro vs Acton vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most affordable homes ($547k median).
Acton has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Wolfeboro | Acton | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
6,571Lowest |
24,155 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Lexington 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 121% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| 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 74% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Acton-Boxborough | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Kingswood Regional High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.