What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).

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	Wayland
People
Population	24,283Highest	13,914Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA	45±1.5Lowest 13% above MA
	Hingham and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wayland 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%	18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wayland 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±$15kLowest 72% above MA	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA	$978,400±$36kLowest 74% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA
	Hingham and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Wayland 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%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wayland 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	#18 of 282 in MA
School district	Hingham	Wayland
High school in town	Hingham High	Wayland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.