Compare towns
Lexington vs Putney vs Hingham
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).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Putney | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
2,622Lowest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lexington and Hingham 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Hingham 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hingham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | None in town | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.