Compare towns
Middlefield vs Hingham vs Chester
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 oldest population (median age 56.9).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k 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 | Middlefield | Hingham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
24,283Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hingham and Middlefield 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 |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below 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 |
$4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hingham | Gateway |
| 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.