Compare towns
Hull vs Salem vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Salem | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
30,964Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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 43% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | Salem School District | Hingham |
| High school in town | Hull High | Salem High School | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.