What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Hingham
People
Population	5,737Lowest	24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bolton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA	$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA
	Bolton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA
	Hingham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	4.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	36 minLowest 24% above MA
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	33.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bolton 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	#28 of 282 in MA	#14 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Hingham
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.