Compare towns
Hingham vs Needham vs Warner vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Warner | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283 |
32,459 |
2,959Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Lexington 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% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Warner 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±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham 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±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,219±$123Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,650Lowest 145% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington 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 | — | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Needham | Kearsarge Regional School District | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Needham High | None in town | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.