Compare towns
Lexington vs Webster vs Hingham vs Needham
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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Webster | Hingham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
17,748Lowest |
24,283 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Needham 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| 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 114% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| 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 64% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Webster | Hingham | Needham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Bartlett High School | Hingham High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.6 |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.