Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Reading
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
20,413 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Lowest 24% above U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marblehead and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.