What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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	Plaistow
People
Population	24,283Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hingham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plaistow 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 121% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hingham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 282 in MA	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Hingham	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Hingham High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.