Compare towns
Concord vs Hingham vs Bedford vs Marblehead
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).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Concord | Hingham | Bedford | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
24,283Highest |
14,727Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 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% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford 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 |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Concord and Marblehead 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 |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% 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 |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,622±$327 49% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Concord and Bedford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Marblehead 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Bedford | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | Bedford High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.9Highest |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.