Compare towns
Hull vs Devens 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).
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Devens | Hingham | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,138 |
1,723Lowest |
24,283Highest |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest 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% |
21.9%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% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Devens and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% 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 |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 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 |
28 min 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Devens 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | — | Hingham | Brewster |
| High school in town | Hull High | — | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
— | 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.