Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
20,413 |
17,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 121% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 241% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.