Compare towns
Lexington vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Sutton | Hingham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
2,239Lowest |
24,283 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Sutton 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 195% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kLowest 61% 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% 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. |
$7,652Lowest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest 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% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 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. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Kearsarge Regional School District | Hingham | Needham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Kearsarge Regional High School | Hingham High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
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.