Compare towns
Hingham vs Needham vs Canton
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).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | Needham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hingham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Canton 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% 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 |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,315±$178Lowest 31% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Needham High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.