Compare towns
Hingham vs Lexington vs Reading vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Winchester has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Hingham | Lexington | Reading | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
34,295Highest |
25,612 |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Winchester and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Lexington and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| Winchester and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Lexington | Reading | Winchester |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Lexington High | Reading Memorial High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.4Lowest |
12.1 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.