Compare towns
Concord vs Hingham vs Reading vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
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 | Reading | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
24,283Highest |
699Lowest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45±1.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wayland and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Hingham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22k 142% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$224,000±$28kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| Wayland and Concord 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 264% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$978,400±$36k 194% above U.S. |
| 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 86% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,475±$603 4% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.1%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Concord and Wayland 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 | — | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wayland |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | None in town | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.9Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.