Compare towns
Hingham vs Orange vs Wendell
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 expensive homes ($1134k median).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Wendell has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Orange | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
7,573 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Wendell 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% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Wendell 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell 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±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Wendell 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
21.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hingham | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.

