Compare towns
Middlesex vs Hingham vs Berlin vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Hingham | Berlin | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
24,283Highest |
2,880 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hingham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.