Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Peru vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the oldest housing (typical home built 1944).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Peru | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
20,413 |
630Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
47.3±0.8Lowest 18% above MA |
| Peru and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru 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% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% 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 |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
— | $2,891±$233Highest 64% 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Marblehead 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 | — | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | — | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | — | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.