Compare towns
Hingham vs Needham vs Wellesley vs Lexington
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 affordable homes ($1134k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
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 | Wellesley | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,283Lowest |
32,459 |
30,347 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| 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%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kLowest 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Lexington and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 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% |
4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Needham | — | Lexington |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Needham High | — | 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 |
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.