Compare towns
Hingham vs Northfield vs Hull
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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Northfield | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
2,872Lowest |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham 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% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Hull 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Hull 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Hull 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Pioneer Valley | Hull |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Pioneer Valley Regional | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7 |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.