Compare towns
Brookline vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
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 | Brookline | Hingham | Marblehead | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 63,266Highest |
24,283 |
20,413Lowest |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7 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+ | 15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% 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 | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
| Brookline and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Brookline 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$9,604 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington and Marblehead 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hingham | Marblehead | Arlington |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.