Compare towns
Wenham vs Hingham vs Williamstown vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Hingham | Williamstown | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,929 |
24,283Highest |
9,150 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
37.5±6.9 6% below MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.9% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamstown and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Dunstable and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,584±$292 10% below MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
| Hingham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,290Lowest 12% below MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #45 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Hingham | Mount Greylock | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Mt Greylock Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.