Compare towns
Arlington vs Hingham vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
Hingham has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Medford has the most affordable homes ($756k 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 | Arlington | Hingham | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350 |
24,283Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.1% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$129,540±$8kLowest 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$755,500±$23kLowest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Medford and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604 60% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,286Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington 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 | #29 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | Hingham | Medford |
| High school in town | Arlington High | Hingham High | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.9 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.