Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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 | Abington | Ayer | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053 |
8,645Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34k 4% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045 18% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Ayer Shirley School District | Hingham |
| High school in town | Abington High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.5 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.