Compare towns
Boston vs Hingham vs Milton vs Cambridge
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 affordable homes ($732k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Milton has the most kids (25.3% under 18).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Milton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
24,283Lowest |
28,587 |
118,796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2 17% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
80.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$130,748±$4k 26% above MA |
| Milton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,092,100±$42k 94% above MA |
| Hingham and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA |
| Cambridge and Hingham 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 |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$4,802 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Boston 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
12.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.8%±1.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Cambridge 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #122 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Hingham | Milton | Cambridge |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Hingham High | Milton High | Cambridge Rindge and Latin |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.9 |
12.4 |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.