Compare towns
Rowley vs Hingham vs Williamsburg vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Rowley | Hingham | Williamsburg | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
24,283Highest |
2,694 |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,420±$933 37% above MA |
| Hingham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Berlin 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hingham | Williamsburg | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | None in town | 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.