Compare towns
Concord vs Hingham vs Needham vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most renters (24.3% rent).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Concord | Hingham | Needham | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3.1 13% 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%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.4 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+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kLowest 96% 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 | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below 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 | 53.2%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Concord 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Needham | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
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| 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.