Compare towns
Hingham vs Plainfield vs Wendell 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 the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Wendell has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Plainfield | Wendell | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
616Lowest |
850 |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Hull and Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Hull 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% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Wendell 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,239±$519Lowest 30% 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | — | New Salem-Wendell | Hull |
| High school in town | Hingham High | — | None in town | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.