Compare towns
Dighton vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Dighton | Hingham | Marblehead | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,193 |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 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+ | 17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% 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 | $501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,840 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 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 | 2.9% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Hingham | Marblehead | Halifax |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Hingham High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.