Compare towns
Upton vs Brewster vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Upton | Brewster | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
10,420 |
24,283Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hingham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
| Hingham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brewster | Hingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.