Compare towns
Ashfield vs Hingham vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Ashfield | Hingham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Lowest |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% 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 | $400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Hingham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.