Compare towns

Concord vs Gardner vs Webster vs Hingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Concord has the highest household income ($195k).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

MeasureConcordGardnerWebsterHingham
People
Population
18,223
21,148
17,748Lowest
24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.6±2
19% above MA
43.7±2.3
9% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.6%±2.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
79.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
23.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%
MA: 47.3%
76.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Webster and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$195,350±$22kHighest
88% above MA
$67,518±$8kLowest
35% below MA
$72,895±$6k
30% below MA
$178,390±$15k
72% above MA
Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,210,000±$72kHighest
115% above MA
$301,600±$20kLowest
46% below MA
$361,500±$12k
36% below MA
$1,134,200±$47k
102% above MA
Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,631±$166Highest
49% above MA
$1,109±$51Lowest
37% below MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$2,465±$603
40% above MA
Concord 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 67% above MA
$4,150
31% below MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.2%±10.5
MA: 51.8%
49.7%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.7%Highest
MA: 10%
12.7%
MA: 10%
4.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.7%
MA: 62.5%
58.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
11% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
36.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
Concord 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 #10 of 282 in MA #273 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA
School district Concord · Concord-Carlisle Gardner Webster Hingham
High school in town Concord Carlisle High Gardner High Bartlett High School Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
13.5Highest
11.6
12.9
On TownTapestry
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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.