Compare towns
Marion vs Hingham vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marion has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Marion | Hingham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310 |
24,283Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
| Marion and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #141 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Hingham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.