Compare towns
Hingham vs Marshfield vs Scituate vs Marblehead
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%).
Marblehead has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Marshfield | Scituate | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
25,879Highest |
19,365Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
47.1±3.1 18% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% 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%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1 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±$15k 72% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| 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 102% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$847,600±$25k 51% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marshfield | Scituate | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marshfield High | Scituate High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.0 |
11.3 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.