Compare towns
Hingham vs Hull vs Lawrence 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 expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Norwell has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Hull | Lawrence | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
10,138Lowest |
88,736Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Lawrence 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Hull 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 |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below 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±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
| Hingham and Norwell 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 |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | — | Lawrence | Norwell |
| High school in town | Hingham High | — | Lawrence High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 13.6Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.