What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).

Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hingham	Methuen
People
Population	24,283Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hingham and Methuen 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%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Hingham	Methuen
High school in town	Hingham High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.