What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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.

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

Measure	North Reading	Hingham
People
Population	15,765Lowest	24,283Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hingham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA
	Hingham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA
	Hingham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	60.3%±12Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hingham and North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA	#14 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Hingham
High school in town	North Reading High	Hingham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	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.