Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hingham vs Hooksett vs Cohasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k 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 | Boxborough | Hingham | Hooksett | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
24,283Highest |
15,057 |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.9±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$199,306±$53kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 296% above U.S. |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,755±$399Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham and Cohasset 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hingham | Hooksett School District | Cohasset |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.