Compare towns
Peru vs Hingham vs Middlefield vs Florida
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Peru | Hingham | Middlefield | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 630 |
24,283Highest |
352Lowest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Middlefield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Middlefield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Hingham | — | Florida |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.