Compare towns
Chester vs Hingham vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Chester | Hingham | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
24,283Highest |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gateway | Hingham | Hull |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.