What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

Harwich has the most affordable homes ($659k 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.

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

Measure	Hingham	Harwich
People
Population	24,283Highest	13,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA	58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.8%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hingham and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA	$96,966±$13kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA	$658,600±$26kLowest 17% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA	$2,017±$738Lowest 14% above MA
	Hingham and Harwich 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	$4,189Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%	56.7%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Harwich 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%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 12 yrs newer than MA	1976 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	25 minLowest 14% below MA
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 282 in MA	#157 of 282 in MA
School district	Hingham	Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Hingham High	Monomoy Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 photos →

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.