Compare towns
Devens vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Bernardston has the most affordable homes ($332k 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 | Devens | Hingham | Marblehead | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±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+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Devens and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,283±$553Lowest 27% 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 | $5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | Hingham | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.