Compare towns
Needham vs Hingham vs Mashpee
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 highest household income ($214k).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k median).
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 | Mashpee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
24,283 |
15,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Mashpee 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 |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,776±$330Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #100 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Hingham | Mashpee |
| High school in town | Needham High | Hingham High | Mashpee Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.9Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.