What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).

Norwell has the most affordable homes ($866k 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	Norwell
People
Population	24,283Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norwell and Hingham 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%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
	Norwell 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	$865,700±$35kLowest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA	$2,215±$336Lowest 26% above MA
	Hingham and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest 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	35 minLowest 21% above MA
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hingham and Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Hingham	Norwell
High school in town	Hingham High	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.7Lowest
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.