Compare towns

Boylston vs Hingham vs Hadley

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureBoylstonHinghamHadley
People
Population
4,948Lowest
24,283Highest
5,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.2±2.3
21% above MA
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
45.8±7.1Lowest
15% above MA
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±4.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
24.2%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
Hingham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,962±$28k
36% above MA
$178,390±$15kHighest
72% above MA
$119,259±$12kLowest
15% above MA
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$578,600±$47k
about the MA average
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$511,000±$43kLowest
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,032±$350
15% above MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$1,402±$132Lowest
20% below MA
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,266
21% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$5,271Lowest
12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.7
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Highest
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.2%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1971Lowest
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
8% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
Work from home
22.7%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±7.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #72 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #116 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston Hingham Hadley
High school in town Tahanto Regional High Hingham High Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
12.9Highest
7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.