Compare towns
Dummerston vs Hingham vs Needham vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Dummerston | Hingham | Needham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hingham | Needham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.