Compare towns
Wendell vs Hingham vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 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 | Wendell | Hingham | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
24,283Highest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Hingham | Whately |
| 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 |
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.