Compare towns
Needham vs Exeter vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Needham | Exeter | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
16,151 |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hull and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham 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 165% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$115,485±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hull 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hull |
| High school in town | Needham High | Exeter High School | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.1Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.