Compare towns
Medford vs Hingham vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the youngest population (median age 35.9).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Framingham has the most affordable homes ($627k 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 | Medford | Hingham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,354 |
24,283Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
37.5±1 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
| Medford and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286Lowest 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #203 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | Hingham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Medford High | Hingham High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.