Compare towns

Hingham vs Marblehead vs Sharon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($737k 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.

MeasureHinghamMarbleheadSharon
People
Population
24,283Highest
20,413
18,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4
21% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
42.5±1Lowest
6% above MA
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%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
27.2%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Sharon and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
76.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sharon 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±$15kLowest
72% above MA
$182,132±$28k
75% above MA
$191,835±$19kHighest
85% above MA
Sharon 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
$737,100±$33kLowest
31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,310±$345
31% above MA
Hingham and Sharon 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
$8,309Lowest
39% above 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%
49%±16.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
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%
MA: 10%
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%
MA: 62.5%
87.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
24% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
39 minHighest
33% above MA
Work from home
33.1%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
31.5%±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 #23 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Marblehead Sharon
High school in town Hingham High Marblehead High Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
10.7Lowest
11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.