Compare towns

Brookline 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

Brookline has the most affordable homes ($544k 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.

MeasureBrooklineHinghamMarblehead
People
Population
5,736Lowest
24,283Highest
20,413
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% 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
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
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+
57.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,046±$4kLowest
112% 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
$544,400±$38kLowest
64% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$943,900±$31k
184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$2,465±$603
74% above U.S.
$1,764±$147Lowest
25% above U.S.
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 221% 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
23.8%±43.5Lowest
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
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 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
33 min
26% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
33 minLowest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
24.7%±5.8Lowest
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 #23 of 120 in NH #14 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district Brookline School District 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

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.