Compare towns

Hingham vs Bow vs Lexington

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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).

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.

MeasureHinghamBowLexington
People
Population
24,283
8,335Lowest
34,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
47.3±0.8
22% above U.S.
Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
25.5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lexington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
84.3%Highest
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%
3.8%±0.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Lexington 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±$16kLowest
114% above U.S.
$238,444±$18kHighest
195% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,134,200±$47k
241% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$1,203,100±$35kHighest
262% above U.S.
Lexington 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
74% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,891±$233Highest
105% above U.S.
Lexington 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 221% above U.S.
$9,584Lowest
207% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.1%±7.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Lexington 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%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lexington 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 #26 of 120 in NH #2 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Bow School District Lexington
High school in town Hingham High Bow High School Lexington High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
12.8
11.4Lowest
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.