Compare towns
Hamilton vs Hingham vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Essex has the shortest commute (25 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 | Hamilton | Hingham | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
24,283Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
45±3.4 13% 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 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$157,147±$24k 51% 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 | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$897,400±$59k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,964±$238 11% 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Hingham | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.