Compare towns
Hingham vs Salisbury vs Sheffield
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 the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Salisbury has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k 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 | Salisbury | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
4,224 |
3,330Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.2±9.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
58.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield 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. |
$124,256±$26k 54% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$763,700±$121k 130% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,846±$736 31% above U.S. |
$1,837±$1kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Salisbury 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. |
$5,125 64% above U.S. |
$4,520Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham and Salisbury 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Salisbury School District | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.