Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Northbridge vs Upton
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%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Northbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
20,413 |
16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Upton 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% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.8 |
11.2 |
| 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.