Compare towns
Hingham vs Ipswich vs Scituate
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%).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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 | Ipswich | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
13,930Lowest |
19,365 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
47.1±3.1Lowest 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Ipswich 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% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Scituate 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Scituate 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% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$136,732±$16kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
$847,600±$25k 51% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
| Hingham and Scituate 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 |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$8,807 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Scituate 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Ipswich | Scituate |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Ipswich High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.