Compare towns
Upton vs Hingham vs Acton vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($477k median).
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 | Upton | Hingham | Acton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
24,283 |
24,155 |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 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+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Hingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,909±$137 8% 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 | $8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,869Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hingham | Acton-Boxborough | Milford |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Hingham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.9 |
13.5Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.