Compare towns
Concord vs Hingham vs Needham vs Lincoln
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 people working from home (36.1%).
Hingham has the most affordable homes ($1134k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Lincoln has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.3±4.1Lowest 6% 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% |
24.3%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lincoln 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%±3.6 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lincoln and Concord 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±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$175,117±$44kLowest 68% 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 | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kLowest 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,208,200±$132k 115% above MA |
| Concord and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
| Lincoln and Concord 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% |
64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lincoln 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest 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 |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Lincoln 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 | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Needham | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | Needham High | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.