Compare towns
Essex vs Hingham vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k 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 | Essex | Hingham | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,701Lowest |
24,283Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3.4 13% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Hingham 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±$15k 72% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $897,400±$59k 60% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,964±$238 11% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$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% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 14% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 23.6%±7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #93 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Manchester Essex Regional | Hingham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.