Compare towns
Westfield vs Hingham vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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 | Westfield | Hingham | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378Highest |
24,283Lowest |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$69,371±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$321,500±$16kLowest 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,144±$68 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westfield | Hingham | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Hingham High | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.