Compare towns
Dennis vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dennis has the most affordable homes ($627k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Dennis | Hingham | Marblehead | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,868 |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
10,420Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.5±2 49% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 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+ | 39.8%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dennis and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,100±$28kLowest 12% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$260Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 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 | #238 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dennis-Yarmouth | Hingham | Marblehead | Brewster |
| 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.