Compare towns
Hingham vs Nahant vs Wellfleet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Nahant has the most affordable homes ($749k median).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Nahant | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
3,325Lowest |
4,404 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
| Nahant and Wellfleet 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% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Nahant and Wellfleet 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% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Nahant and Wellfleet 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 |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$748,800±$99kLowest 33% above MA |
$855,300±$70k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
| Hingham and Nahant 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 |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Nahant 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hingham | Nahant | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.