Compare towns
Townshend vs Hingham vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Townshend | Hingham | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
24,283Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Lowest 24% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hingham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham and Townshend 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Hingham | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.