Compare towns

Hingham vs Burlington vs Cohasset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Burlington has the most affordable homes ($741k median).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).

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.

MeasureHinghamBurlingtonCohasset
People
Population
24,283
26,274Highest
8,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
MA: +7.4%
+7.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
45.9±2.2
15% above MA
43.9±4.4Lowest
10% above MA
Hingham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
17.1%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
27.2%±4.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
17.8%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
76.2%
MA: 47.3%
58.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
Burlington and Cohasset 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
$146,436±$14kLowest
41% above MA
$199,306±$53kHighest
92% above MA
Cohasset 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±$47k
102% above MA
$740,600±$35kLowest
32% above MA
$1,318,900±$165kHighest
135% above MA
Cohasset 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
$2,718±$368
54% above MA
$2,755±$399Highest
56% above MA
Cohasset and Burlington 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
$6,165Lowest
about the MA average
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.4%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±15.5
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%
MA: 10%
5.9%Highest
MA: 10%
3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
MA: 62.5%
74.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
24% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
37 minHighest
28% above MA
Work from home
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Hingham and Cohasset 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 #83 of 282 in MA #41 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Burlington Cohasset
High school in town Hingham High Burlington High Cohasset High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
11.3
9.0Lowest
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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.