Compare towns
Belmont vs Hingham vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belmont has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Hingham has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Arlington has the most affordable homes ($934k 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 | Belmont | Hingham | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,175 |
24,283Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Belmont and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$150,701±$5kLowest 45% above MA |
| Belmont and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
| Belmont and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA |
| Belmont 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 |
$9,604Lowest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington 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 | #3 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belmont | Hingham | Arlington |
| High school in town | Belmont High | Hingham High | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.9Lowest |
13.6 |
| 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.