Compare towns
Hingham vs Lexington vs Natick vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Lexington | Natick | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
34,295 |
36,873Highest |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick 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 |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% 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 |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lexington 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Marblehead 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Lexington | Natick | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Lexington High | Natick High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.4 |
12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.