Compare towns
Wells vs Hingham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Washington 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.
| Measure | Wells | Hingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
24,283Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Lowest 24% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wells 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% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Wells 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% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hingham 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. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.