Compare towns

Hingham vs Bedford vs Hull

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

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.

MeasureHinghamBedfordHull
People
Population
24,283Highest
23,746
10,138Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4
24% above U.S.
45±2.2Lowest
16% above U.S.
56.1±1.8Highest
44% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hingham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hull and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Bedford and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$167,418±$12k
107% above U.S.
$115,485±$14kLowest
43% above U.S.
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
241% above U.S.
$612,100±$26kLowest
84% above U.S.
$646,000±$38k
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$2,099±$274
49% above U.S.
$2,081±$187Lowest
47% above U.S.
Hingham and Bedford 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 221% above U.S.
$9,803
214% above U.S.
$6,089Lowest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±14Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1946Lowest
34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
33.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 120 in NH #66 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Bedford School District Hull
High school in town Hingham High Bedford High School Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
13.5Highest
8.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.