Compare towns
Needham vs Hingham vs Newton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Hingham has the most affordable homes ($1134k median).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Needham | Hingham | Newton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
24,283 |
89,044Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
| Hingham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kLowest 102% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA |
— |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hingham | Newton | — |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | Newton North High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.