Compare towns

Berlin vs Hingham vs Ogunquit vs Northfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
Hingham has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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.

MeasureBerlinHinghamOgunquitNorthfield
People
Population
3,378
24,283Highest
1,379Lowest
2,872
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±2.8
28% above U.S.
48.4±2.4Lowest
24% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
48.9±4.2
26% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.1%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,336±$12k
50% above U.S.
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$103,375±$10kLowest
28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,600±$55k
85% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$375,800±$31kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,420±$933
71% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
—
$1,142±$200Lowest
19% below U.S.
Hingham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,116
128% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,594
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±19.7
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
29% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
29.1%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 #61 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA — #231 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston Hingham — Pioneer Valley
High school in town None in town Hingham High — Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
—
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.