Compare towns
Hingham vs Middlefield vs Hull 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%).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Hull has the most renters (20.4% rent).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Middlefield | Hull | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
352Lowest |
10,138 |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Middlefield and Hull 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% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2 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%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Hull 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% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hull 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 72% above MA |
$103,750±$23kLowest about the MA average |
$115,485±$14k 11% 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 |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Hingham 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 |
$4,926Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Hingham 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% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 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 | — | #66 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | — | Hull | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | — | Hull High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 8.8Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.