Compare towns
Hingham vs Needham vs Exeter vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Exeter | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
32,459Highest |
16,151Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham 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 121% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
| 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 241% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
| 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 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Needham High | Exeter High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.