Compare towns
Cohasset vs Needham vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Cohasset | Needham | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±4.4 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Hingham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $199,306±$53k 92% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
| Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kLowest 102% above MA |
| Cohasset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
| Cohasset 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±15.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest 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 | 3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest 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 | #41 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Cohasset | Needham | Hingham |
| High school in town | Cohasset High School | Needham High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.9 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.