Compare towns
Douglas 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
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the shortest commute (33 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 | Douglas | Hingham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% 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 | 21.2%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 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+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kLowest 46% above 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 | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% 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 | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest 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 | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Hingham | — |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Hingham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.