What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harwich has the most affordable homes ($659k median).

Hingham has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harwich	Hingham
People
Population	13,598Lowest	24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA	48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	35.8%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%	26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hingham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,017±$738Lowest 14% above MA	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA
	Hingham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,189Lowest 30% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.7%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 12 yrs newer than MA	1976 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 14% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#157 of 282 in MA	#14 of 282 in MA
School district	Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	Hingham
High school in town	Monomoy Regional High School	Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.