Compare towns
Hingham vs Rowley vs Williamsburg
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).
Rowley has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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.
| Measure | Hingham | Rowley | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
1,708Lowest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Williamsburg 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% |
23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Rowley 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% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg 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 |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
| Hingham and Rowley 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 |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Williamsburg 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hingham | — | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Hingham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.