Compare towns
Medford vs Hingham vs Malden
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Malden has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,354 |
24,283Lowest |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1 10% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Medford and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$100,606±$6kLowest 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$633,500±$26kLowest 13% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,204±$62Lowest 25% 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 | $6,286 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,995Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Malden 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% |
11.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #203 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | Hingham | Malden |
| High school in town | Medford High | Hingham High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.9 |
16.1Highest |
| 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.