Compare towns
Hingham vs Pelham vs Williamsburg
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%).
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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.
| Measure | Hingham | Pelham | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
1,335Lowest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hingham 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% |
18.6%±4Lowest 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% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest 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% |
60.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hingham | Pelham | Williamsburg |
| 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.