Compare towns
Hingham vs Dover vs Dedham vs Hull
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%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Dover | Dedham | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
2,308Lowest |
25,237Highest |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dedham 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Dover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
— | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | — | Dedham | Hull |
| High school in town | Hingham High | — | Dedham High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.4 |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.