Compare towns
Carlisle vs Hingham vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Chelmsford has the most affordable homes ($594k 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 | Carlisle | Hingham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239Lowest |
24,283 |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 13% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hingham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Chelmsford and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$140,629±$8kLowest 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46k 96% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,062±$151 17% above MA |
| Hingham and Chelmsford 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 |
$8,047Lowest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Hingham | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.