Compare towns
Lexington vs Gorham vs Hingham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Lexington | Gorham | Hingham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
18,300Lowest |
24,283 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% 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 | 25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 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+ | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% 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 | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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 | $2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% 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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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 | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Gorham Public Schools | Hingham | Needham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Gorham High School | Hingham High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.