Compare towns
Halifax vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Halifax | Hingham | Marblehead | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
24,283Highest |
20,413 |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,464±$753 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,585Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hingham | Marblehead | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.