Compare towns
Bedford vs Hingham vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746 |
24,283Highest |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hull and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$115,485±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford School District | Hingham | Hull |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Hingham High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.