Compare towns
Hingham vs Hull vs Reading
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%).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Reading has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283 |
10,138Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Hingham 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 |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Hingham and Reading 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±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% 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 |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Hull 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Hull | — |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Hull High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.