Compare towns

Marblehead vs Hampton vs Hingham vs Swampscott

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 most homeowners (85.2%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($545k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).

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.

MeasureMarbleheadHamptonHinghamSwampscott
People
Population
20,413
10,101Lowest
24,283Highest
15,277
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2
26% above U.S.
51.2±1.7Highest
32% above U.S.
48.4±2.4
24% above U.S.
44.5±3.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
Hampton 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
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Swampscott 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±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$97,163±$4kLowest
20% above U.S.
$178,390±$15k
121% above U.S.
$134,386±$23k
66% above U.S.
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
184% above U.S.
$545,300±$63kLowest
64% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$771,100±$41k
132% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147
25% above U.S.
$1,654±$93Lowest
17% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$2,303±$143
63% above U.S.
Hingham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309
166% above U.S.
$6,872Lowest
120% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,936
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Swampscott 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
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.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #31 of 120 in NH #14 of 282 in MA #76 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead — Hingham Swampscott
High school in town Marblehead High — Hingham High Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
12.9Highest
11.7
On TownTapestry
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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.