Compare towns

Marblehead vs Nahant 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%).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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.

MeasureMarbleheadNahantHingham
People
Population
20,413
3,325Lowest
24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
-2.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2
23% above MA
60.7±2.9Highest
52% above MA
48.4±2.4Lowest
21% above MA
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
11%±3.1Lowest
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%
36.2%±6.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
61.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Marblehead and Nahant 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
$112,762±$6kLowest
8% above 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
$748,800±$99kLowest
33% above MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$1,777±$334
about the MA average
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
Hingham and Nahant 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
$6,615Lowest
10% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53.5%±17.4
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
78.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944
20 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
32 minLowest
10% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.7%±5.7Lowest
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 #129 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead Nahant Hingham
High school in town Marblehead High None in town 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.