Compare towns
Hingham vs Ashland vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k median).
Concord has the shortest commute (32 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 | Hingham | Ashland | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
18,873 |
18,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
| Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,452±$298Lowest 39% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,444Lowest 24% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Ashland | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Ashland High | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
14.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.