Compare towns
Middleton vs Hingham vs Hanson vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% 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 | Middleton | Hingham | Hanson | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
24,283 |
10,660 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Hingham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Hingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Hingham | Whitman-Hanson | Peabody |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
14.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.