Compare towns

Norfolk vs Hingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norfolk has the most affordable homes ($725k 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.

MeasureNorfolkHingham
People
Population
11,673Lowest
24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
Kids under 18
24.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Norfolk and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.8%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Norfolk and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$200,720±$22kHighest
93% above MA
$178,390±$15kLowest
72% above MA
Norfolk and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$725,200±$34kLowest
29% above MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,019±$598Lowest
15% above MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
Hingham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,651Lowest
61% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±16Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1976Lowest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
36 minLowest
24% above MA
Work from home
32.6%±5.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Hingham and Norfolk 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 #123 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA
School district King Philip · Millis Hingham
High school in town None in town Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
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.