Compare towns
Hingham vs Bow vs Marblehead 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
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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.
| Measure | Hingham | Bow | Marblehead | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
8,335Lowest |
20,413 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
78.3% 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%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Marblehead 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. |
$182,132±$28k 126% 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. |
$943,900±$31k 184% 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. |
$1,764±$147 25% 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% 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% |
49.5%±8.8 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% |
4.4% 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% |
85.2% 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. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 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 |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
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% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Bow School District | Marblehead | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Bow High School | Marblehead High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.