Compare towns

Marblehead vs Dalton vs Hingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.

MeasureMarbleheadDaltonHingham
People
Population
20,413
6,256Lowest
24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
-6.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2
23% above MA
49.7±5.8Highest
24% above MA
48.4±2.4Lowest
21% above MA
Dalton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
20.6%±4.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
27.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
Dalton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$79,438±$8kLowest
24% below MA
$178,390±$15k
72% above MA
Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31k
68% above MA
$295,700±$26kLowest
47% below MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$872±$70Lowest
51% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309
39% above MA
$4,276Lowest
29% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
41.2%±19Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
MA: 10%
7.4%Highest
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1957
7 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
22 minLowest
24% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±7.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
Marblehead 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 #47 of 282 in MA #192 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA
School district — Central Berkshire Hingham
High school in town — Wahconah Regional High Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9Lowest
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.