Compare towns
Conway vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Shelburne has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Conway | Hingham | Marblehead | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
1,567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
| Shelburne and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$405,400±$32k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
| Hingham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797 3% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Hingham | Marblehead | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
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.