Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Norwell vs Hull
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 most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k 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 | Norwell | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
20,413 |
11,361 |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Hingham 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%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham 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% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Norwell 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±$28k 75% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Norwell and Marblehead 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 |
$865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | Norwell | — |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Norwell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
— |
| 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.