Compare towns
Marblehead vs Exeter vs Hingham vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
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 | Marblehead | Exeter | Hingham | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
16,151 |
24,283Highest |
13,914Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
45±1.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wayland and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$224,000±$28kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$978,400±$36k 194% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,475±$603Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayland and Marblehead 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hingham | Wayland |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Hingham High | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.