Compare towns

Bow vs Hingham vs Marblehead

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 most affordable homes ($507k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).

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.

MeasureBowHinghamMarblehead
People
Population
8,335Lowest
24,283Highest
20,413
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
48.4±2.4
24% above U.S.
49.1±2Highest
26% above U.S.
Marblehead and Hingham 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%
23.4%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.5Lowest
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%
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kLowest
114% above U.S.
$178,390±$15k
121% above U.S.
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$943,900±$31k
184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,764±$147
25% above U.S.
Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,309Lowest
166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Marblehead 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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Marblehead 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 #26 of 120 in NH #14 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district Bow School District Hingham Marblehead
High school in town Bow High School Hingham High Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
12.9Highest
10.7Lowest
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.