Compare towns
Hingham vs Reading vs Dover vs Cohasset
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Cohasset has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Reading | Dover | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
25,612Highest |
2,308Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
43.9±4.4 10% above MA |
| Hingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$199,306±$53k 92% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
| Cohasset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
— | $2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
| Cohasset and Hingham 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±15.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Hingham 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Reading | — | Cohasset |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Reading Memorial High | — | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1 |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.