Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Nahant
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%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Marblehead | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
20,413 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead and Nahant 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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 |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$748,800±$99kLowest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Nahant 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,615Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Nahant 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | Nahant |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.