Compare towns
Everett vs Needham vs Hingham vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% 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 | Everett | Needham | Hingham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
32,459 |
24,283Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$72,179±$8kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$493,500±$24kLowest 12% below MA |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,956±$96Lowest 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | — | Hingham | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | — | Hingham High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.