What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newton	Hingham
People
Population	89,044Highest	24,283Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hingham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA	$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA
	Newton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA	$1,134,200±$47kLowest 102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA
	Hingham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest MA: 10%	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hingham and Newton 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	#25 of 282 in MA	#14 of 282 in MA
School district	Newton	Hingham
High school in town	Newton North High	Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.