Compare towns
Exeter vs Hingham vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Exeter | Hingham | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
24,283 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Hingham 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hingham | Lexington |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hingham High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.