Compare towns
Hingham vs Chilmark vs Hull vs Norwell
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%).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Hull | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
1,578Lowest |
10,138 |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Hull and Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Norwell 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 |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Norwell 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 | — | #66 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Up-Island Regional | Hull | Norwell |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Hull High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 8.8Lowest |
11.7 |
| 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.