Compare towns
Needham vs Canton vs Hingham
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | Needham | Canton | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
24,748 |
24,283Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
| Needham and Hingham 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 |
$2,315±$178Lowest 31% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest 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 | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Needham 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hingham |
| High school in town | Needham High | Canton High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.