What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Essex	Hingham
People
Population	3,701Lowest	24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±3.4Lowest 13% above MA	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA
	Hingham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4%	23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Essex and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hingham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$157,147±$24kLowest 51% above MA	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA
	Hingham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$897,400±$59kLowest 60% above MA	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,964±$238Lowest 11% above MA	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA
	Hingham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest MA: 10%	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 14% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	23.6%±7Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hingham and Essex 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	#93 of 282 in MA	#14 of 282 in MA
School district	Manchester Essex Regional	Hingham
High school in town	None in town	Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.