Compare towns
Chilmark vs Hingham vs Hull vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Chilmark | Hingham | Hull | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
24,283 |
10,138 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hull and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Chilmark and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 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 | 4.1% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Needham 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Hingham | Hull | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Hull High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.