Compare towns

Hingham vs Marshfield vs Scituate

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%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k median).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.8%).

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.

MeasureHinghamMarshfieldScituate
People
Population
24,283
25,879Highest
19,365Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
45.9±2.6Lowest
15% above MA
47.1±3.1
18% above MA
Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
Hingham and Scituate 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%
20.2%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.2%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
52.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$178,390±$15kHighest
72% above MA
$125,986±$8kLowest
21% above MA
$136,732±$16k
32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$680,300±$27kLowest
21% above MA
$847,600±$25k
51% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$1,772±$123
about the MA average
$1,609±$311Lowest
9% below MA
Hingham and Marshfield 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
$6,656Lowest
11% above MA
$8,807
47% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12
MA: 51.8%
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.7%±10.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%
MA: 10%
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.8%
MA: 62.5%
87.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
24% above MA
35 minLowest
19% above MA
38 minHighest
31% above MA
Work from home
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
24.8%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28%±4
MA: 18.6%
Hingham and Scituate 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 #54 of 282 in MA #43 of 282 in MA
School district Hingham Marshfield Scituate
High school in town Hingham High Marshfield High Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
11.0Lowest
11.3
On TownTapestry
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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.