Compare towns
Hingham vs Marblehead vs Salem
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 homeowners (85.2%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283 |
20,413Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
38.7%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% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% 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. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above 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. |
$6,992Lowest 124% 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% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hingham | Marblehead | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.