Compare towns

Scituate vs Hingham vs Marshfield Hills

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marshfield Hills has the highest household income ($216k).

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.

MeasureScituateHinghamMarshfield Hills
People
Population
19,365
24,283Highest
1,978Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3.1Lowest
18% above MA
48.4±2.4
21% above MA
52±10.2Highest
30% above MA
Marshfield Hills and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
17%±7.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
22%±6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
66.8%
MA: 47.3%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
56.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
0.7%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Scituate and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$136,732±$16kLowest
32% above MA
$178,390±$15k
72% above MA
$216,250±$90kHighest
108% above MA
Marshfield Hills and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$847,600±$25kLowest
51% above MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$851,700±$107k
52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,609±$311Lowest
9% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
—
Hingham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,807
47% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,575Lowest
43% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.7%±10.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12
MA: 51.8%
100%±38.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield Hills and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.3%Highest
MA: 10%
3.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
31% above MA
36 minLowest
24% above MA
37 min
28% above MA
Work from home
28%±4
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.3%±8.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Hingham and Scituate 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 #43 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA —
School district Scituate Hingham —
High school in town Scituate High School Hingham High —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
12.9Highest
—
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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.