Compare towns

Hadley vs Hingham vs Boylston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

MeasureHadleyHinghamBoylston
People
Population
5,306
24,283Highest
4,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%
MA: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±7.1Lowest
15% above MA
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
48.2±2.3
21% above MA
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
18%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.2%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
22%±4.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.3%
MA: 47.3%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
54.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$119,259±$12kLowest
15% above MA
$178,390±$15kHighest
72% above MA
$140,962±$28k
36% above MA
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$511,000±$43kLowest
9% below MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$578,600±$47k
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$132Lowest
20% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$2,032±$350
15% above MA
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,271Lowest
12% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$7,266
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±16.7
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Highest
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
7 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
33% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
27 min
8% below MA
Work from home
20.1%±7.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #116 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #72 of 282 in MA
School district Hadley Hingham Berlin-Boylston
High school in town Hopkins Academy Hingham High Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.3Lowest
12.9Highest
11.1
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.