Compare towns
Middlefield vs Hingham vs Peru vs Florida
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Peru | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352Lowest |
24,283Highest |
630 |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Middlefield and Florida 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% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Peru 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% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Peru 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 |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
— | $867±$256Lowest 51% 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 |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Hingham | — | Florida |
| 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 | 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.