Compare towns
Hull vs North Reading vs Hingham
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 population (median age 56.1).
North Reading has the youngest population (median age 43).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | North Reading | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
15,765 |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 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+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| Hingham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$9,693 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 14% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | North Reading | Hingham |
| High school in town | Hull High | North Reading High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
10.1 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.