Compare towns

Walpole vs Hingham vs Milton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Milton has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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.

MeasureWalpoleHinghamMilton
People
Population
26,388
24,283Lowest
28,587Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
41.1±1.8
about the MA average
Kids under 18
25.1%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
71.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,500±$16kLowest
65% above MA
$178,390±$15k
72% above MA
$188,529±$15kHighest
81% above MA
Milton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$687,100±$20kLowest
22% above MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$933,200±$31k
66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,205±$222
25% above MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$1,474±$281Lowest
16% below MA
Hingham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,523Lowest
42% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$9,677
61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±20.9
MA: 51.8%
Hingham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.3%
MA: 10%
4.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
15% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
31 minLowest
8% above MA
Work from home
28.2%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
29.7%±2.9
MA: 18.6%
Hingham and Milton 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 #107 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #55 of 282 in MA
School district Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Hingham Milton
High school in town Walpole High Hingham High Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
12.9Highest
12.4
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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.