Compare towns
Epping vs Hingham vs Needham vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
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 | Epping | Hingham | Needham | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4 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+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26kLowest 19% 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 | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214Lowest 9% above 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 | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,272Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Lowest 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hingham | Needham | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Hingham High | Needham High | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
11.4 |
| 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.