Compare towns
Hebron vs Needham vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hebron has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | Hebron | Needham | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 883Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.9±3.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
| Hebron and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 37.8%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hebron and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,071±$17kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $589,500±$61k 77% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$334 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,603Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.