Compare towns
Hingham vs Hull vs Lancaster vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Lancaster | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
10,138 |
8,606Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 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% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Lexington 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±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Lexington 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 |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Hull | Nashoba | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Hull High | None in town | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.