Compare towns
Berkley vs Hingham vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Freetown has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Berkley | Hingham | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
24,283Highest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Berkley and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$143,884±$15kLowest 38% above MA |
| Hingham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kLowest 9% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,891±$363Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hingham and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #155 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Hingham | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.