Compare towns
Ashland vs Hingham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
24,283Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298 39% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Hingham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Hingham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Hingham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.9 |
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.