Compare towns
Andover vs Concord vs Hingham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).
Concord has the most people working from home (36.1%).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Andover | Concord | Hingham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
18,223Lowest |
24,283 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA |
$195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Hingham 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.