Compare towns
Bedford vs Hingham vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Ipswich has the most affordable homes ($745k 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 | Bedford | Hingham | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
24,283Highest |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Bedford and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Bedford 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Hingham | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Hingham High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.