Compare towns
Hingham vs Pelham vs Rowley
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).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($448k median).
Rowley has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Pelham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
1,335Lowest |
1,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
| Hingham and Rowley 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% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Pelham 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% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham 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% |
64.8% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
| Hingham and Rowley 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 |
$7,472 25% above MA |
$6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Rowley 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% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Pelham 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Pelham | — |
| High school in town | Hingham High | 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.