Compare towns

Douglas vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Webster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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.

MeasureDouglasHinghamMarbleheadWebster
People
Population
9,207Lowest
24,283Highest
20,413
17,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
48.4±2.4
21% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
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%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
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%
19.6%±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%
MA: 47.3%
76.2%
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10k
46% above MA
$178,390±$15k
72% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% below 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±$29k
16% below MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$943,900±$31k
68% above MA
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$1,228±$81Lowest
30% 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
$6,338
6% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,309
39% above MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below 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%
45.7%±6.7
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%
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.4%
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
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
1962
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
16% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
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 #271 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Hingham — Webster
High school in town Douglas High School Hingham High — Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
12.9Highest
—
11.6
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.