Compare towns
Hingham vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Ripton | Salisbury | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
— | $1,443±$984Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Lexington 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington 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 | — | — | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | None in town | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.