Compare towns

Atkinson vs Hingham vs Plaistow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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.

MeasureAtkinsonHinghamPlaistow
People
Population
7,267Lowest
24,283Highest
7,861
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
48.4±2.4
24% above U.S.
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Hingham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Atkinson and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,380±$32k
81% above U.S.
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$108,317±$13kLowest
34% above U.S.
Hingham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$555,200±$65k
67% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$404,500±$32kLowest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,918Lowest
122% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,194
131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
7% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 120 in NH #14 of 282 in MA #66 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Hingham Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town None in town Hingham High Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.