What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hingham	Salem
People
Population	24,283Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Hingham 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 121% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	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 U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Hingham	Salem School District
High school in town	Hingham High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.