Compare towns
Dover vs Hingham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k 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 | Dover | Hingham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
24,283Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Dover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Hingham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hingham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.