Compare towns
Newburyport vs Scituate vs Ipswich vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newburyport has the oldest population (median age 49.8).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.8%).
Ipswich has the most affordable homes ($745k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Newburyport | Scituate | Ipswich | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,652 |
19,365 |
13,930Lowest |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA |
47.1±3.1Lowest 18% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
| Newburyport and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67% MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $139,625±$21k 34% above MA |
$136,732±$16kLowest 32% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $834,000±$37k 48% above MA |
$847,600±$25k 51% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,592±$221Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,944Lowest 33% above MA |
$8,807 47% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Newburyport 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 | #56 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newburyport | Scituate | Ipswich | Hingham |
| High school in town | Newburyport High | Scituate High School | Ipswich High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.3 |
9.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.