Compare towns
Williamstown vs Hingham vs Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% 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 | Williamstown | Hingham | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,150 |
24,283Highest |
8,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
| Hingham and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,650±$25k about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,100±$39k 22% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,584±$292 10% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% 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 | $5,290 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Williamstown 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 | #45 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mount Greylock | Hingham | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Mt Greylock Regional High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.