Compare towns
Exeter vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Hampstead has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Exeter | Hingham | Marblehead | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hingham | Marblehead | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hingham High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.