Compare towns
Boston vs Hingham vs Hull vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Boston | Hingham | Hull | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
24,283 |
10,138 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Hingham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Hingham | Hull | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Hingham High | Hull High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.9 |
8.8Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.