Compare towns
Hingham vs Salem vs Upton vs Hull
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Upton | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
44,795Highest |
8,189Lowest |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Hull 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hull |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Salem High | Blackstone Valley | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8 |
11.2 |
8.8Lowest |
| 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.