Compare towns
Marblehead vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($944k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Marblehead | Dover | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413 |
2,308Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
47.5±4Lowest 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Marblehead 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
| Dover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
— | $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 | $8,309Lowest 39% above 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%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | — | Hingham |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | — | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 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.