Compare towns
Hingham vs Bow vs Hull vs Norwell
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).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% 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.
| Measure | Hingham | Bow | Hull | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
8,335Lowest |
10,138 |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest 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% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$115,485±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Norwell 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±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35k 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336 57% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Norwell 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Hingham 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham and Norwell 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #66 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Bow School District | — | Norwell |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Bow High School | — | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.