What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).

Bedford has the shortest commute (26 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.

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

Measure	Hingham	Bedford
People
Population	24,283Highest	14,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA	44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hingham and Bedford 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%	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA	$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA
	Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA	$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Lowest 40% above MA	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA
	Bedford and Hingham 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%	5.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.8%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	36 minHighest 24% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hingham and Bedford 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	#7 of 282 in MA
School district	Hingham	Bedford
High school in town	Hingham High	Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.