Compare towns

Brookfield vs Hingham vs Marblehead

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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.

MeasureBrookfieldHinghamMarblehead
People
Population
3,460Lowest
24,283Highest
20,413
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
31% above MA
48.4±2.4Lowest
21% above MA
49.1±2
23% above MA
Brookfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Brookfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.2%
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
Brookfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,250±$37kLowest
22% below MA
$178,390±$15k
72% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$341,900±$23kLowest
39% below MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$943,900±$31k
68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161Lowest
42% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,092Lowest
15% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,309
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
11% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
Work from home
12%±5.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
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 #109 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district Brookfield Hingham Marblehead
High school in town None in town Hingham High Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
10.7Lowest
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.