Compare towns
Bolton vs Hingham vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Arlington has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bolton | Hingham | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
24,283Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 7% below U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arlington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 8% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,191±$172Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Hingham | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.