Compare towns
Hingham vs Swampscott vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k 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 | Swampscott | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
15,277 |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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 MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Hull 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 72% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Swampscott 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 |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Swampscott 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Swampscott 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Swampscott | — |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Swampscott High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.