Compare towns
Hingham vs Ipswich vs Swampscott
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).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
13,930Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% 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% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Swampscott 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%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Ipswich 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% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$134,386±$23kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Hingham and Swampscott 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 |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Swampscott 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Swampscott 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 | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Ipswich | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Ipswich High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.