Compare towns
Dalton vs Hingham vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Dalton | Hingham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Dalton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above 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 | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 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 | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hingham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Hingham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.