Compare towns
Burlington vs Hingham vs Ipswich
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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Ipswich has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
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 | Hingham | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
24,283 |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Lowest 15% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Ipswich 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Ipswich 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Burlington and Ipswich 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below 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 |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Hingham | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Hingham High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.