Compare towns
Hingham vs Salem vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 |
30,964Highest |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| 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 241% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% 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% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Salem School District | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Salem High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.