Compare towns
Hingham vs Brewster vs Lexington vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Marblehead has the oldest housing (typical home built 1944).
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 | Lexington | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
10,420Lowest |
34,295Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
47.3±0.8Lowest 18% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Hingham 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% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| 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 40% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Brewster | Lexington | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Lexington High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.4 |
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.