Compare towns

Bow vs Dunbarton vs Hingham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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.

MeasureBowDunbartonHingham
People
Population
8,335
3,097Lowest
24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
Hingham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
$124,348±$21kLowest
54% above U.S.
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
Hingham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$484,100±$33kLowest
46% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$8,233Lowest
164% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 min
27% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #26 of 120 in NH #33 of 120 in NH #14 of 282 in MA
School district Bow School District Dunbarton School District Hingham
High school in town Bow High School None in town Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
—
12.9Highest
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.