Compare towns
Hingham vs Lexington vs Walpole
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Lowest |
34,295Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Lexington 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% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% 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 |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Hingham 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 | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Lexington | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Lexington High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.4 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.