Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs North Reading
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 people working from home (34%).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | Marblehead | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
20,413 |
15,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% 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%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading and Marblehead 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 |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% 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 |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
| Hingham and North Reading 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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest 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 | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | North Reading |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.