Compare towns
Hingham vs Brewster vs Hull vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Brewster has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Brewster | Hull | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
1,994Lowest |
10,138 |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
57±15.4Highest 43% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±6.6 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
37.6%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±3.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hull 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 72% above MA |
$113,214±$38kLowest 9% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead 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 102% above MA |
$858,100±$205k 53% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,276±$554Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Hull 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 67% above MA |
$4,892Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±26.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | — | — | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | — | — | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.