Compare towns
Middlefield vs Hingham vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Middlefield | Hingham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
24,283Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Becket and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,107±$1kLowest 20% above MA |
| Middlefield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hingham | Central Berkshire |
| High school 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.