Compare towns
Hull vs Needham vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Hull | Needham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
32,459 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | Needham | Springfield |
| High school in town | Hull High | Needham High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.