Compare towns
Quincy vs Hingham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quincy has the most renters (54.8% rent).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 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 | Quincy | Hingham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
24,283Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8Lowest 4% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59 20% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hingham and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #147 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Hingham | Salem |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Hingham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
12.9 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.