Compare towns
Hingham vs Salem vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Salem | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283 |
44,795Highest |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham and Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Salem | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Salem High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.