Compare towns
Ashland vs Hingham vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ashland | Hingham | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
24,283Highest |
19,358 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.8±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
29.5%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
77.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashland and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$222,801±$22kHighest 114% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$802,700±$39k 43% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Lowest 39% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,641±$361Highest 50% above MA |
| Hopkinton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Lowest 24% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
64.4%±14.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hopkinton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 minLowest 24% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #5 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Hingham | Hopkinton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Hingham High | Hopkinton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
12.9Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.