Compare towns
Lexington vs Reading vs Hingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k 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 | Reading | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
25,612 |
24,283Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% 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 | 25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest 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+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lexington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
| 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 64% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Reading | Hingham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Reading Memorial High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.1 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.