What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most homeowners (80.7%).

Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hingham	Brookline
People
Population	24,283Lowest	63,266Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%	15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA	$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kLowest 102% above MA	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA
	Brookline and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Lowest 40% above MA	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA
	Brookline and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Brookline 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%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hingham and Brookline 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	#22 of 282 in MA
School district	Hingham	Brookline
High school in town	Hingham High	Brookline High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.