Compare towns
Concord vs Hingham vs Melrose
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 the most homeowners (80.7%).
Melrose has the most affordable homes ($823k 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 | Concord | Hingham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Lowest |
24,283 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.6±1.1Lowest 9% 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Melrose 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 |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$822,900±$20kLowest 46% 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 |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Melrose |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.