Compare towns
Hingham vs Milton vs Needham vs Hull
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 most people working from home (33.1%).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k 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 | Hingham | Milton | Needham | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
28,587 |
32,459Highest |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Hingham 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% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Needham and Milton 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 |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Needham 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Milton | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Milton High | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.4 |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.