Compare towns
Hull vs Springfield vs Hingham vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Brewster has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Hull | Springfield | Hingham | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
154,749Highest |
24,283 |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089 about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Hingham | Brewster |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.