Compare towns
Hingham vs Topsfield 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 the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Topsfield | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
6,564Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% 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%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Hingham 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% |
22.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
71.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Topsfield and Marblehead 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 |
$853,400±$40kLowest 52% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Topsfield | 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.