What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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	Putnam
People
Population	24,283Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Hingham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hingham and Putnam 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%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam 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.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hingham and Putnam 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Hingham	Putnam School District
High school in town	Hingham High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	9.5Lowest
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.