Compare towns
Hingham vs Needham vs Canton vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
32,459Highest |
24,748 |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% 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% |
3.8%±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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% 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±$178 31% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Needham High | Canton High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.9 |
13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.