Compare towns
Salem vs Hingham vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Salem | Hingham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
24,283 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Hingham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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 | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Hingham | Sutton |
| High school in town | Salem High | Hingham High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.