What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the highest household income ($178k).

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Hingham	Stowe
People
Population	24,283Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Hingham and Stowe 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%	22.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hingham and Stowe 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%	25.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hingham and Stowe 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%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hingham and Stowe 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.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kLowest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hingham and Stowe 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	—
School district	Hingham	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Hingham High	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.3Lowest
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.