Compare towns
Hingham vs Dover vs Dedham vs Marblehead
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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
2,308Lowest |
25,237Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% 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 |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% 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% |
3.8%±1 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±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% 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±$182 16% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% 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 |
1944Lowest 20 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 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | — | Dedham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | — | Dedham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.