Compare towns
Hingham vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Marblehead has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Shirley | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
6,976Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 72% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Ayer Shirley School District | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.