Compare towns
Burlington vs Hamilton vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hamilton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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 | Burlington | Hamilton | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
7,600Lowest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Hingham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
| Burlington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Hamilton 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 | #83 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Hamilton-Wenham | Hingham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.8 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.