Compare towns
Wells vs Hingham vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Pawlet has the shortest commute (33 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.
| Measure | Wells | Hingham | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
24,283Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Wells and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pawlet and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,153±$215Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Hingham | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.