Compare towns
Marblehead vs Plainfield vs Hingham vs Wayland
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1944).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Hingham | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
616Lowest |
24,283Highest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
45±1.5Lowest 13% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 75% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| 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 68% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$978,400±$36k 74% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,475±$603 16% below 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hingham | Wayland |
| High school in town | — | — | Hingham High | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.