Compare towns
Marblehead vs Sherborn vs Hingham vs Salem
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 population (median age 49.1).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
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 | Sherborn | Hingham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
4,427Lowest |
24,283 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn 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% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 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% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Hingham and Sherborn 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 |
$2,338±$316 33% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Hingham and Sherborn 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Sherborn | Hingham | Salem |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | None in town | Hingham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.